v 


Martin  Van  Buren. 


John  Tyler. 


Bishop  Onderdonkv 


Bishop  Hughes. 


l\     ,$\ysi- 

"THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD,"  ;   ;  , 

FOR 

THE  GLORY  OF  GOD, 

AND 

EVERLASTING  BENEFIT  OF  ALL  WHO  READ  AND  UNDERSTAND  THEM; 

OR 

OLD  BEVELATIONS  AND  PBOPHECIES 

IN 

SEVERAL  SERMONS, 

REVISED,  ENRICHED,  EMBELLISHED  AND  CONFIRMED; 

AND 

DEDICATED  TO  THEIR  EXCELLENCIES,  ANDREW  JACKSON,  MARTIN  VAN 


BUREN,  JOHN  TYLER.  BISHOP  ONDERDONK,  AND  BISHOP  HUGHES. 


BY  A  DESCENDANT  FROM  ONE  OF 

THE  EAR^LY  PURITANIC  GOVERNORS. 


"NE  QUID  FALSI  DICERE  AUDEAT, 
JtE  QUID  VERI,  NON  AUDEAT." 

'•' 

Bear  with  me  a  little,  in  107  folly,  seeing  ye  yourselves  are  wise. — 


PORTLAND: 
PUBLISHED  BY  WILLIAM  HYDE. 

THURSTON,    It,  8  LEY    &  CO.,  PRINTERS. 

1845. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  by 

WILLIAM    HYDE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  of  Maine,  in  the  A.  D.  1845. 


DEDICATION. 


To    your    Excellencies,  viz :  ex-Presidents   ANDREW   JACKSON, 

MARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  JOHN  TYLER,  and  Bishops  ONDERDONK 

and  HUGES,  this  work  is  here  very  ceremoniously  inscribed. 

IT  WILL  strike  all  minds  acquainted  with  this  work,  and  with  you, 

that  there  are  no  personages  in  North  America,  so  worthy  of  a 

dedication  of  a  work  of  this  kind,  as  yourselves.     All. of  you  have 

preached,  and  harrangued,  for  many  years,  to  the  members  of  the 

vast  congregation,  for  which  these  sermons  are  designed:  and  all 

O        o  '  o  ' 

of  you  have  stoutly  professed  to  wish  well  to  asses. 

If  I  have  offended  your  excellencies,  by  encroaching  upon  your 
employment,  it  is  fit  I  should  beg  your  pardon,  or  offer  some  apolor 
gy  :  but  as,  I  have  often  seen  your  public  declarations,  that  there 
was  plenty  of  work  for  you,  and  hundreds  more  in  that  line  of 
business,  I  trust  you  will  not  be  offended  at  receiving  a  little  as- 
sistance from  one,  who  means  well  to  every  member  of  each  of 
your  congregations. 

Cherishing  the  hope,  that  you  will  recommend  these  sermons 
to  your  numerous  acquaintances  and  ft  lends,  I  am, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 
THE  AUTHOR. 


CRITICAL   NOTICES 

Of  the  "  First  Edition"  of  "THINGS,  NEW  AND  OLD,"  viz  : 

From  the  Pittsburgh  Telegraph  of  Oct.  13,  1847, 
REVIEWS  OF  THEOLOGICAL  AND  CIVIL  HISTORY. 
Mr.  Editor, — I  had   the   pleasure  to  hear  a  Review,  given  by  Rev.  Prof. 
Welles,  m   the  church  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fulton,  last  Sabbath  evening,  and  feel 
strongly  desirous  that  he  should  be  encouraged  to  give  a  course  to  our  citi- 
zens, in  one  of  our  churches  ;  as  I  am  confident  that  intelligent  and  critical 
hearers  would   be  highly  entertained  and   improved   by  attending-      I  well 
know  that  his  Reviews  have  been  spoken  of  in  the  strongest  terms  of  com- 
mendation  by  gentlemen  in  tfte  highest  walks  of  literature,  taste,  science 
and  theology  in  our  country.  A  FRJEND  TO  HlSTORICAL  RESEARCHES. 

From  the  "  Portland  Bulletin"  and   "  New  York  Christian  Intelligencer," 

respecting  the  Reviews,  referred  to  above,  entitled 

"THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD." 

The  New  York  Christian  Intelligencer,  in  noticing  the  excellent  ("we  came 
very  near  writing  eccentric)  work  with  the  above  title,  lately  published  by 
William  Hyde,  of  this  city,  makes  the  following  just  remarks,  concerning 
its  merits  : — 

"  This  octavo,  of  260  pages,  consists  of  eight  very  remarkable  sermons  on 
very  striking  texts  of  Scripture.  The  contents  are  in  keeping  with  the  title 
page,  as  above  given.  The  author,  as  appears  from  the  preface,  has  num- 
bered nearly  three  score  and  ten  years.  Bui  no  one  who  reads  his  book  will 
readily  be  persuaded  that  time  has  in  the  least  impeded  the  current  of  his 
thoughts.  The  structure  of  his  mind  is  peculiar.  His  book  is  remarkable 
for  pith,  wit  and  pungency  ;  also  for  the  great  variety  in  its  contents.  It 
displays  the  very  ardent  temperament  of  the  author,  who  has  a  mind  of  his 
own,  and  expresses  it,  not  only  freely,  but  with  characteristic  severity.  His 
views  of  things,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  are  very  prominently  and  impres- 
sively presented.  The  curious  reader  may  be  aided  in  forming  some  idea  of 
this  singular  book,  by  taking  the  Bible,  and  turning  to  some  of  the  passages 
selected  as  the  subjects  of  discourse.  The  first  of  these  is  recorded  in  Gen- 
esis xlix.  14.  Another  is  that  in  Numbers  xxii.  21 — 30." 

We  conclude  this  brief  notice  in  the  truthful  words  of  the  author  : — 
"Though  there  may  be  some  things  that  seem  to  savor  a  little  of  the  ludic- 
rous in  these  sermons,"  [and  we  may  add,  some  things  which  the  sober  rea- 
der will  regret,]  "yet  he  may  rest  quite  assured  that  he  will  find  also  tome 
very  serious  things,  highly  worthy  of  his  notice." 

By  Dr.  Cheever,  in  "  New  York  Evangelist,"  1845. 

"  THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD."      By  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  Puritanic 
Governors.  'Vr. 

This  is  a  strange  work ;  but  under  its  uncouth  and  fantastic  garb  contains 
the  most  timely  truths,  which  many  besides  this  honest  Puritan  have  felt,  but 
pone  dared  express  so  plainly.  A  more  out-spoken,  unflinching  picture  of 
>.je  times,  and  of  the  real  causes  of  the  dark  aspects  of  things  we  have  never 
seen  ;  and  ihe  reader,  if  he  will  overlook  the  oddity,  sometimes  whimsical, 
and  sometimes  tedious,  will  find  thoughts  and  counsels  not  only  worth  his 
trouble,  but  also  worth  cherishing. 

From  the  Portland  Bulletin  of  April  21,  1845. 

"  THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD."  A  Boston  Lady  of  uncommon  talents,  who  is 
known  as  an  authoress,  being  the  other  day  in  the  store  of  the  publisher, 
spoke  in  terms  of  very  high  commendation  of  this  volume — as  in  her  view, 
"one  of  the  most  interesting  and  exciting  productions,  she  had  met  with." 
Every  family  should  have  a  copy.  They  will  have  in  addition  to  a  volume  of 
most  interesting  and  important  matter,  in  relation  to  their  highest  interests,  a 
frontispiece-engraving,  exhibiting  good  likenesses  of  the  heads,  in  a  most 
admirable  group,  of  Andrew  Jackson,  Martin  Van  Buren,  John  Tyler,  Bishop 
Onderdonk,  and  Bishop  Hughes;  which,  alone,  to  persons  of  intelligence 

"M  taste,  who  have  never  seen  those  personages,  will  be  worth  more  to  keep 
~  'ook  at,  than  the  cost  of  the  volume,  viz.,  $1  50. 

ONE  MORE — Said  a  "Down  East"  Editor,  "We  take  this  work,  as  de- 
signed for  an  effectual  cure  of  the  popular  diseases  (errors)  of  the  day." 

Another  says,  "The  Author  of  this  Work  ha$  hit  upon  the  right  characters." 


CONTENTS. 


1 .  Illustration  of  Genesis  XLIX,  14 :   Issachar  is  a  strong  ass, 

couching  down  between  two  burdens. 

2.  Do.  do. 

3.  Illustration  of  Numbers  XXII,  21 — 30 :  Balaam  rose  up  in 

the  morning  and  saddled  his  ass,  and  went  with  the  Prin-_ 
ces  of  Moab.     And  the  ass  said  unto  Balaam,  am  I  not 
thine  ass  upon  which  thou  hast  ridden  ever  since  I  was 
thine. 

4.  'Do.  do. 

5.  Illustration  of  Romans  XV,  4  :  Whatsoever  things  were  writ- 

ten aforetime,  were  written  for  our  learning,  that  we 
through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures,  might 
have  hope. 

6.  Do.  do. 

T.  Illustration  of  2nd  Thessalonians,  II,  3 :  And  that  Man  of 
Sin,  be  revealed,  the  Son  of  Perdition. 

S.  Illustration  of  Proverbs  XXVI,  4  and  5 :  Answer  not  a  fool 
according  to  his  folly,  lest  thou  also  be  like  him  :  An- 
swer a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  lest  he  be  wise  in  his 
own  conceit. 

9.  A  Sermon  first  preached,  Fourth  of  March,  A.  D.  1823,  from 
Job  XXII,  10  :  I  also  will  show  my  opinion. 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  well  known,  that  it  is  very  customary  for  preachers,  civil  as 
well  as  ecclesiastical,  when  they  publish  sermons,  to  assign  reasons 
why  they  do  so.  "  The  desire  of  friends, — and  the  request  of 
better  judges," — are  often  given  as  reasons  of  publication.  The 
author  of  this  COLLECTION  of  "sermons  and  reviews,"  does  not  pre- 
tend to  any  of  these  reasons ;  yet,  he  verily  conceives,  that  he  has 
good  and  altogether  sufficient  reasons  for  publishing  them.  The 
audience,  whom  he  intends  to  benefit,  is  far  too  large,  for  any  sin- 
gle human  voice  to  reach  the  ears  of  all ;  and,  therefore,  as  he 
could  not  speak  to  all  so  as  to  make  them  hear,  he  has  made  choice 
of  this  medium,  as  the  only  one  by  which  he  could  communicate 
these  instructions. 

But,  when  one  is  disposed  to  preach  a  sermon  or  two,  for  the 
benefit  of  any  of  the  creatures  God  has  made,  he  is,  now-a-days, 
often  perplexed  to  find  a  proper  subject  or  text,  to  discourse  upon. 
Almost  every  character  has  been  described  in  some  sermon,  lec- 
ture, or  political  speech.  And  there  is  not  a  faculty  of  the  mind, 
nor  a  member  of  the  body,  but  which  has  been  harrangued,  lec- 
tured, or  preached  threadbare.  There  are,  also,  now,  sermons 
to  young  men,  and  sermons  to  young  women,  —  dissertations  and 
speeches,  and  phrenological  humbugs  on  heads,  and  fascinating 
lectures  on  hearts  —  almost  every  subject  is  exhausted,  having  been 
lectured  and  sermonized  to  death. 

Yet,  the  author  does  not  remember  having  seen  any  sermons, 
excepting  these,  on  the  subjects  he  has  here  chosen,  nor  heard  of 


VI11  PREFACE. 

any  preached,  professedly  and  particularly  to  his  audience.  Our 
very  excellent  patrons  may  perad venture,  be  offended  at  the  author, 
for  thus  interfering  with  their  employment,  and  preaching  to  their 
congregations ;  but  this  much  the  author,  may  iri  truth,  say,  for 
himself,  that  he  has  not  preached  after  their  manner;  and  to  make 
them  some  satisfaction,  has  given  them  the  honor  of  a  dedication. 

Now,  every  preacher  has  a  right  to  preach  as  it  pleaseth  him, 
to  such  as  are  disposed  to  hear  him;  and  in  whatever  manner  he 
has  an  inclination,  if  his  end  be  the  real  profiting  of  his  hearers; 
and,  therefore,  if  he  be  not  so  happy  as  to  please  his  audience,  he 
should  take  care  not  to  displease  himself. 

Sermons  to  this  class  of  animals,  I  know,  may  appear  strange,  to 
such  as  have  lately  read  sermons  to  young  women  ;  but  they  ought 
to  consider,  I  think,  that  something  is  due,  even  to  these  quadru- 
peds. We  read,  you  know,  of  their  preaching  to  mankind  ;  and 
pray  tell  us,  why  may  not  MEN  preach  to  them  ? 

Some  solemn  epicurian,  in  black,  will  doubtless  hoot  this,  as  an 
insult  to  mankind,  and  a  reflection  upon  gentlemen  in  all  the  holy 
orders ;  and  all  the  very  excellent  dignitaries  of  church  and  state  ! 
The  author  can  only  reply,  in  vindication,  that  he  has  followed 
the  example  of  the  Patriarch  Jacob,  who  preached  to  asses;  and 
of  our  Saviour,  who  sent  a  challenge  preachment  to  the  voluptuous 
monster,  Herod,  styling  him  "  that  fox,"  a  cunning  and  ferocious 
brute,  that  he  held  in  utter  contempt. 

After  all,  there  is  some  reason  to  suspect  that  the  preachers  re- 
ferred to,  will  censure  these  sermons,  for  being  destitute  of  some 
things  which  they  ought  to  contain ;  as  also,  for  not  wanting  some 
things  which  they  contain.  But,  as  "  humanum  est  errare,"  there 
is  no  perfection  in  this  life,  the  reader  must  receive  them  as  they 
are.  There  should  have  been  two  volumes  of  them,  for  the  sake 
of  fashion,  as  that  has  become  the  customary  style  of  publishing; 
but  it  has  been  thought  convenient  to  postpone  one,  'till  such  time 
as  it  should  appear  how  the  Jirst  was  received. 

And,  another  thing :  these  sermons  should  have  been  dedicated 
to  many  subordinates  of  their  excellencies,  named  in  the  dedication ; 
with  hopes  that  they  also  would  join  in  recommending  them  to 
public  notice  ;  but  the  author  feared  offending  their  modesty,  by  the 
llatlery  of  a  dedication  ;  and  for  that  reason,  they  have  not  been 
named. 


PREFACE.  IX 

Once  more.  The  author  has  deferred  setting  his  name  to  these 
discourses,  until  the  twenty -fifth  edition,  when  he  jn  ay  perhaps  find 
'•  D.  D."  to  fix  to  them,  like  other  authors. 

If  the  clergy,  or  others,  think  it  improper  thus  to  preach  to 
quadrupeds,  the  author  may,  perhaps,  publish,  by-and-by,  sermons 
to  Doctors  in  Divinity  ;  when  he  will  pay  some  regard  to  method, 
and  the  regular  set-to  rules  of  composing  sermons.  Doubtless, 
every  preacher  ought  to  consider  the  qualifications  of  his  audience, 
and  preach  accordingly.  Though  there  may  be  some  things  that 
seem  to  savor,  a  little,  of  the  ludicrous,  in  these  sermons,  the 
reader  may  rest  quite  assured  that  he  will  find  also,  some  very  seri- 
ous things,  highly  worthy  of  his  notice.  Thus  much  the  preacher 
can  say  for  himself,  that  having  enjoyed  almost  "  three  score  and 
ten  years,"  durinu  the  latter  portion  of  it,  on  witnessing  the  cor- 
ruption and  profligate  tendency  of  things,  in  both  church  and 
state,  he  has  often  rejoiced  in  having  authority  from  the  "  Royal 
Preacher"  to  rebuke  the  "  madness  of  the  times."  When  JacJcson 
•^arae  into  the  chair  of  state,  HE  saw,  distinctly,  in  that  melancholy 
fact,  that  public,  American  virture,  was  sinking  from  her  glory ;  and 
that  rice,  was  emerging  from  its  infamy  ;  and  he  did  not  hesitate 
then,  publicly,  to  sound  the  note  of  alarm.  And  the  time  has  now 
come,  when  the  basest  would  have  us  recognize  them  as  on  the 
same  level  with  the  best !  And  whoever  dares,  even  with  authority 
from  tJie  living  God,  to  expose  and  reprobate  this  state  of  things, 
expects  to  be  visited  by  the  million,  with  implacable  wrath.  But 
in  all  this  wrath,  there  is  nothing  to  be  deprecated  by  us;  as  these 
patricides  are  unsusceptible  of  solid  argument,  or  any  holy  prin- 
ciple ;  we  have,  therefore,  no  solicitude  about  their  censure  or 
applause — we  would,  indeed,  were  it  possible,  do  them  good. 
This  is  at  least  a  negative  merit,  which  some  preachers  of  the 
age  cannot  claim ;  and  with  which  they  will  never  Le  endowed ; 
endowed  with,  did  I  say?  They  could  not  be  endowed  with  what  is 
negative  !  Call  }t  anything  you  please,  for  1  have  done. 

COMPILER. 

N-  B. — Yet,  he  will  here  svpcradd,  that,  haying,  on  a  certain  evening, 
exhibited  the  plan,  and  leading  features  of  the  contents  of  this  work,  to  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  critics  in  Biblical  literature  and  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory, now  PRESIDENT  of  one  of  our  Colleges,  he  gave  it  his  most  emphatic 
and  substantial  testimony  of  approval ;  presenting  '.he  author  with  ten  dol- 
ars,  with  the  assurance  that  if  he  would  send  him  one  copy,  when  it  should 
Icome  from  the  press,  he  would  consider  himself  amply  remunerated. 


SEEMON  I. 


GEN.  XLIX,  14 : 

ISSACHAR     IS    A     STRONG    ASS,     COUCHING    DOWN    BETWEEN   TWO 

BURDENS. 

Every  theological  scholar  knows,  that  the  language  of 
the  Old  Testament,  is  peculiarly  suited  for  drawing  charac- 
ters in  few  words.  It  is  usual,  in  the  Hebrew  language,  to 
present  the  image  of  a  multitude,  by  a  single  character. 
We  find  it  very  common,  by  the  figure  of  a  beasf,  to  point 
out  the  image  of  a  whole  people ;  and  there  is  always  at 
least  some  resemblance  to  the  thing  signified.  •  It  is  needless 
now  to  go  far  for  examples  —  there  is  one  in  the  text :  Issa- 
char is  a  strong  ass,  &c.  And,  indeed,  he  has  much  need 
of  strength,  for  he  carries  two  burdens. 

The  tribe  of  Issachar  were  a  wealthy,  inactive,  9 slothful 
and  licentious  people  ;  as  appeared  in  the  sequel,  they  loved 
rest  and  abundance  of  idleness,  more  than  liberty,  and  chose 
to  be  duped  and  enslaved,  rather  than  inform  themselves, 
and  assert  and  maintain  their  freedom.  There  was  a  reason 
for  this  —  the  father  had  set  them  an  example ;  he  saw  that 
the  land  was  good,  productive  of  every  thing  required  for 
sensual  pleasure  —  perfectly  adapted  to  his  slothful  and 
sluggish  disposition;  self-interest,  ease,  and  sordid  self-en- 
joyment, were  of  more  importance,  in  his  view,  than  intel- 
ligence, and  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  the  whole  nation. 
There  are  many  such  asses  as  Issachar,  that  prefer  present 
ease,  brutal  ignorance,  and  indulgence,  to  intelligent,  reli- 
gious, moral  and  political  freedom.  Our  text  is  a  prophecy, 


12  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

in  the  present  tense,  which  is  common  in  the  Hebrew  writ- 
ings. Jacob,  here,  in  his  last  words,  foretells  the  general 
character  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar.  I  need  not  tell  my  read- 
ers any  more  concerning  the  object  of  this  prediction,  than 
that  it  included  the  whole  tribe  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
It  was  too  well  verified  by  their  subsequent  behavior. 

JACOB,  I  think,  is  the  first  mentioned  in  the  scriptures, 
who  preached  to  asses ;  but,  since  his  time,  many  have  been 
thus  usefully  employed.  This  term,  "  ass,"  1  admit,  is  a 
shameful  monosyllable,  when  applied  to  reasonable  crea- 
tures —  men,  who  are  endowed  with  reason  and  understand- 
ing, to  degenerate  so  basely.  Oh !  what  a  falling  off,  is 
here!!!  This  was  quite  a  numerous  tribe;  it  rose  to  the 
number  of  fifty-four,  thousand  and  four  hundred  !  Truly, 
a  large  family !  far  too  many  of  them  to  be  so  mean-spirit- 
ed !  They  wanted  not  wealth,  nor  strength, but  intelligence, 
and  energy  of  character.  Many  good  gifts,  indeed,  alas ! 
have  been  ill  bestowed !  Strength,  without  intelligent  ac- 
tivity, is  always  a  debasement  in  human  nature.  A  nation 
of  slaves,  is  a  kingdom  of  asses.  That  is  a  dishonorable 
rest,  and  execrable  indulgence,  which  prevails  to  the  ruin 
of  the  common  weal.  Ease  and  indulgence  may  be  good 
—  but  not  unconnected  with  liberty.  But  what  was  I  say- 
ing? Rest,  without  liberty,  is  bondage  —  absolute. 

But  what  can  these  "burdens"  mean,  that  Issachar 
•"couched  down"  so  decently  "under'"?  They  were, 
doubtless,  civil  and  religious  sfavery.  Strange !  that  such 
a  number  of  rational  creatures  should  so  tamely  bear  two 
such  insupportable  burdens !  I  had  almost  forgotten  that 
they  were  ass.es ;  no  people,  of  any  spirit,  could  endure  such 
bondage  without  complaining !  But  examples  in  modern 
days,  of  such  a  mean-spirited  condition,  have  become  so 
common,  that  we  may  cease  to  wonder  at  the  ineffable  deg- 
radation of  the  tribe  of  Issachar.  The  greatest  part  of  the 
world,  certainly  all  Europe,  and  thousands  in  America, 
have  been  successively  couched  down  between  these  exe-. 
crable  burdens  of  fraudulent  civil  and  religious  oppressors. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  13 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

The  Jews,  as  a  nation,  in  the  days  of  our  Saviour,  were 
become  a  sort  of  tame  asses;  they  couched  down,  till  the 
loco  foco*  priests  laid  on  their  burden  on  the  one  side;  and 
the  political  Roman  loco  foco  demagogues,  on  the  other. 
This  assinego  character,  is,  at  best,  a  slovenly  one;  and  I 
wish  it  were  gone  out  of  the  world. 

In  the  scriptures,  you  know,  an  ass,  is  contrasted  with  a 
horse,  which  is  a  generous  and  noble  animal ;  that  is,  it  is 
tractable  and  energetic;  but  not  abject.  Obedience  to  just 
laws,  and  submission  to  slavery,  are  two  very  different 
things ;  the  former  denotes  a  people,energetic,wise  and  good . 
but  the  l-atter,  a  duped,  base,  degenerate  generation.  En- 
lightened understandings,  and  good  morals,  make  men  good 
members  of  civilized  society;  ignorance,  heedlessness,  and 
licentiousness,  render  them  the  legitimate  candidates  for  all 
the  execrable  degradation  of  'dupery  and  bondage.  If 
human  beings,  through  ignorance,  indolence,  and  licentious- 
ness, degenerate  to  such  asses,  they  always  find  a  plenty  of 
loco  focos,  in  both  church  and  state,  to  fix  their  burdens  upon 
them.  Peradventure,  I  shall  give  offence,  by  repeating  this 
disagreeable  epithet :  I  here  lay  it  aside:  and  instead  of  the 
sign — (ass)  —  pursue  the  thing  signified.  The  original 
word  signifies  an  ass  of  bone,  which  denotes  strength,  but 
yet  plainly  indicates  leanness.  And,  indeed,  all  slaves  are 
generally,  intellectually  and  morally  lean ;  all,  who  know 
not  the  enjoyment  of  liberty,  are  poor  enough,  both  in  a 
political  and  moral  sense.  And  to  go  back  a  moment,  to 
the  old  man,  Issachar ;  he  is  presented  to  us  as  a  creature, 
strong,  truly:  but  without  any  judicious,  wise  and  salutary 
motion ;  precisely  like  all  people  in  a  state  of  servitude ; 
being  entirely  unfit  for  any  profitable  business,  unless  they 
were  led  to  it.  by  some  "loco  foco"  sportsman;  or  scourged 
to  the  work,  as  loco  foco  slave  holders  do,  in  our  own  times. 

Now  there  is  nowhere  a  profitable  trade,  except  among  a 
free  and  energetic  people.  And  wealth,  it  must  be  admit- 

*  The  term  loco  /oco,  as  used  in  this  work,  according  to  the  common  and 
universal  acceptation  of  wise  men,  denotes  all  errorists — workers  of  iniqui- 
ty :  or  misleaders  in  either  religious,  political,  or  moral  subjects. 


14  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ted.  after  all  said  about  it,  does  not  consist  in  specie,  but  in 
a  judicious  circulation  of  it ;  and  slaves  are  entirely  indif- 
ferent about  the  matter.  Such  have  no  just  sense  of  prop- 
erty, nor  correct  notions  of  right ;  and  therefore  want  the 
springs  of  action,  by  the  use  of  which,  reasonable  beings 
can  be  kept  in  their  proper  place. 

It  is  wonderful,  what  human  custom  will  do ;  it  is  called 
9.  second  nature,  and  justly ;  for,  through  long  use  and  habit, 
men  will  actually  stoop  to  take  on  their  own  burdens !  Is- 
sachar  stooped  down.  Indeed,  he  deserved  a  heavy  bur- 
den for  such  debasement  of  spirit !  It  is  then,  soon  enough 
to  submit  to  dupery  and  bondage,  when,  by  the  inscruta- 
ble providence  of  God,  we  cannot  avoid  it.  But  dupery 
and  slavery  are  the  just  reward  to  all  such  as  heedlessly 
and  voluntarily,  give  up  their  natural,  civil  and  religious 
rights  and  privileges;  such  as  do  not  value  intelligence, 
good  morals,  industry,  and  freedom  of  thought  and  action, 
deserve  to  be  duped  and  enslaved.  It  is  an  insult  offered 
to  our  Creator,  thus  to  give  up  our  prerogative  to  any  of  his 
creatures.  Such  as  voluntarily  give  up  their  rights  and 
privileges,  which  have  been  bestowed  by  him,  and  submit  to 
dupery  or  any  human  yoke,  deserve  the  name  of  Atheists  ! 
Human  beings  are  not  at  liberty  to  give  up  such  a  high 
trust,  till  God,  in  his  providence,  requires  it.  Look  back  to 
our  first  parents.  There,  see  the  ruinous  consequences  of 
listening  to,  and  being  duped  by,  the  royal  arch  loco  foco 
patriarch  .'*  When  men  are  conquered  and  forced  to  submit, 
their  subjection  is  no  crime,  but  a  call  of  our  Creator ;  but 
when,  for  some  private,  or  party  interest,  or  from  inatten- 
tion, we  give  up  our  own  and  the  public  welfare,  we  ren- 
der ourselves  unworthy  the  protection  of  heaven,  by  such 
foul  rejection  of  its  government. 

Time  was,  when  almost  all,  of  many  generations,  of  the 
character  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  were  in  the  land  of  our 

*  We  have  the  highest  authority  for  giving  his  Satanic  majesty  this  ap- 
pellation. Said  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  the  chief  priests,  scribes,  phara- 
sees,  and  elders  — who  were  locofocos  —  "  Ye  are  of  your  father,  the  devil." 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  15 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

English  forefathers;  and  though  they  are  now  long  since 
dead,  not  two  centuries  since,  vast  numbers  of  their  descen- 
dants were  still  "couching  down  between"  the  "two  bur- 
dens "  of  civil  and  religious  loco-foco  deceivers,  and  oppres- 
sors. Yes  —  hy  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  population 
were  loaded  and  pressed  down  by  them. 

It  is  amazing  to  think  how  creatures  of  the  same  frame 
and  constitution,  endowed  with  the  same  powers  and  ca- 
pacities, should  suffer  themselves  to  be  so  deluded,  and  be- 
come so  submissively  dupes  and  slaves  of  others !  We  are 
all  naturally  free — our  state  of  society  requires  subordina- 
tion of  ranks,  and  individuals;  but  can  never  oblige  men 
to  part  with  their  natural  rights.  All  justifiable  obedience 
must  be  an  act  of  an  intelligent  will.  In  a  land  of  dupery 
and  slavery,  on  the  contrary, -where  leaders  are  arbitrary, 
and  the  head  of  the  government  has  absolute  power,  there 
can  be  but  one  public  will,  in  that  nation ;  and  also  but  one 
will,  in  each  of  the  duped  parties,  in  either  religion  or  poli- 
tics, that  follow  their  several  loco  foco  despotic  sportsmen  : 
and  hence,  no  despot  can  ever  know  how  many  of  his 
dupes  really  obey  him.  That  loco  foco  king,  indeed,  is 
mightily  deceived,  who  thinks  his  subjects  obey  him ;  for 
there  is,  there  can  be,  no  true  obedience,  but  what  proceeds 
from  the  heart.  The  burden  of  Issachar's  tribe,  is  thus 
declared  in  the  verse  following  the  text.  "He  became  a 
servant  to  tribule.''  First  duped,  then  they  became  the 
subjects  of  civil  and  religious  oppression.  This  did  not 
happen  all  at  once.  Men's  minds  will  for  a  time  remon- 
strate against  dupery  and  bondage,  until  their  deciever? 
soothe  them  to  sleep.  It  is  the  work  of  time,  to  make  men 
perfect  slaves,  to  any  thing;  and  it  is  ordinarily,  some  lead 
ing  passion,  or  two,  which  '-loco  focos"  address,  to  make 
them  so. 

Love  of  ease,  and  love  of  pleasure,  have,  we  know, 
brought  thousands  into  slavery  ;  but  ignorance  and  indif- 
ference with  regard  to  moral  truth,  and  their  highest  inter- 
est, have  been  the  cause  why  a  far  greater  number  of  the 


16  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

race,  in  every  age,  have  been  shamefully  duped,  and  most 
execrably  enslaved. 

When  all  the  faculties  are  engaged  in  the  pursuit  o.f  their 
various  and  proper  objects,  according  as  the  God  of  nature 
directs  and  requires,  it  will  be  a  miracle  if  they  do  not  keep 
themselves  clear  of  all  dupery  and  slavery.  Nations,  in 
by-gone  days,  who  looked  no  farther  than  their  own  boun- 
daries, and  their  original  district,  in  a  short  time,  turned 
slaves;  when  they  went  abroad  to  pursue  trade  and  busi- 
ness, they  brought  nothing  home,  and  remained  of  course, 
the  same  people.  And,  in  many  instances,  where  such 
have  made  emmigration,  they  have  carried  slavery  along 
with  them  ;  and  they  could  not  live  without  it. 

Pardon  this  digression.  These  two  burdens  —  civil  and 
religious  dupery  and  oppression,  have  ever  held  all  nations 
in  bondage,  where  they  have  prevailed.  They  are  laid  on 
by  civil  and  ecclesiastical  "loco  focos,"  viz;  majistrates 
and  clergy.  In  some  nations,  these  all  act  together,  to  fix 
the  burden  upon  the  people ;  their  dupery  arid  slavery  seems 
one  concocted  arid  connected  load  of  bondage.  Mohammed- 
ism,  for  instance,  in  the  outset,  is  one  of  this  sort.  Reli- 
gion among  the  Mohammedons,  is  an  engine  of  state  policy ; 
yet  this  burden  is  composed  of  two  parts,  viz :  idolatry 
and  civil  oppression.  No  man,  with  them,  can  say  he  has 
any  property. 

Again :  In  Popish  countries,  the  fact  has  been  much  the 
same ;  there  is  only  this  difference —  the  loco  foco  magis- 
trate lays  on  the  one  burden,  and  the  loco  foco  priest,  the 
other ;  and  they  may  properly  be  said  to  be  two,  because 
their  policies  are  different;  yet,  the  magistrate  himself,  is 
compelled  to  take  a  burden  from  his  priest  by  church  au- 
thority. If  the  loco  foco  king,  or  any  loco  foco  magistrate, 
should  not  be  so  tractable  as  they  require,  they  have  always 
been  accustomed  to  use  some  method  to  make  him  bear  his 
burden  patiently.  They  used  him  as  Balaam  did  his  ass  — 
belabored  him  with  church  censures,  and  threatened  hin? 
wth  deprivation  of  office  and  support.  But  in  some  in- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  17 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

stances,  in  later  times,  the  civil  loco  focos,  (Princes)  have 
become  so  obstinate  and  powerful,  as  to  bruise  the  Pope's 
foot  against  the  wall,  and  almost  kicked  him  off;  for  he 
always  had  the  impudence  when  he  laid  on  a  burden,  to 
mount  himself  upon  the  top  of  it.  If  all  the  loco  foco  kings 
in  Europe,  and  the  world,  saw  their  own  interest,  they 
would  forthwith  totally  reject  his  authority.  The  common 
people  are,  notwithstanding,  still  oppressed  with  these  two 
burdens.  The  loco  foco  leaders  of  parties,  together  with  the 
Prince,  lay  upon  them  the  burden  of  many  taxes  of  one 
kind  and  another;  and  the  loco  foco  clergy,  fix  another,  to 
make  them  ballance  fairly.  All  these  creatures  are  so  much 
of  Issachar's  character,  that  they  voluntarily  stoop  and 
take  on  their  burdens.  •  In  the  burden  of  civil  dupery  and 
oppression,  is  contained  so  much  as  the  Prince  and  his 
creatures  need  for  all  the  purposes  of  their  pride  and  am- 
bition ;  and  if  it  be  the  same  in  all  countries  where  arbi- 
trary government  prevails,  this  burden  will  comprehend 
item  for  all  things  a  man  may  happen  to  possess !  Yes, 
such  was  once  the  burden  of  the  people  in  Great  Britain, 
during  the  whole  of  the  unfortunate  reign  of  the  Stuarts. 
Their  burden  contained  a  particular  enumeration  of  arti- 
cles: such  as  tonnage  and  poundage,  license  to  dress  meat, 
patents  for  soap,  cards,  dice,  and  pins,  &c.,  &c.  Such  a 
burden  was  fixed  upon  all  the  subjects  by  the  royal  pre- 
rogative, and  was  increased  or  alleviated,  according  to  his 
majesty's  most  gracious  pleasure.  This  was  a  most  griev- 
ous burden,  for  it  extended  to  all  the  necessaries  of  life.  A 
Christian  could  not  call  his  head  his  own,  without  paying 
for  it;  nor  durst  any  subject  suffer 'the  smoke  of  his  chim- 
ney to  ascend  towards  heaven,  without  paying  a  modus  to 
the  king  for  that  privilege.  The  king  of  Britain,  was  then 
the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  as  well  as  king  of  Brit- 
ain and  Ireland.  If  all  nations,  where  the  prince  is  arbi- 
trary, have  such  a  burden  imposed  upon  them,  as  this,  they 
clearly  have  need  of  much  strength  and  patience. 
2 


18  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

In  those  nations  where  Popery  prevails,  there  is  a  burden 
of  religious  dupery  and  slavery  laid  upon  the  people,  by 
the  priests;  and  this  consists  of  item  for  all  things  in  heav- 
en and  earth ;  together  with  a  tight  restraint  upon  the  con- 
sciences of  men,  not  to  act  or  think  contrary  to  the  judg- 
ment and  dictation  of  the  priest  or  church.  This  burden 
contains  several  parcels  of  very  ponderous  goods  ;  such  as 
the  canons  of  the  church  —  the  decrees  of  councils  —  and 
the  infalibility  of  the  Bishops  and  priests  of  Rome.  All 
these,  men  must  receive,  however  absurd  they  may  appear 
to  them,  upon  the  pain  of  purgatory  or  hell-torments  for- 
ever. In  a  word,  every  man  in  that  communion,  must  be- 
lieve almost  everything  and  anything  but  the  scriptures, 
which  are,  indeed,  entirety  excluded  from  this  heavy  bur- 
den! 

In  case  any  who  have  their  burdens  laid  upon  them, 
prove  any  way  refractory  or  perverse,  they  are  reminded 
of  their  duty  by  very  powerful  arguments.  The  holy  of- 
fice of  the  inquisition,  has  several  spurs,  for  such  perverse 
asses  as  will  not  carry  their  burdens  with  patience.  They 
may  kick  and  spurn  as  they  will,  but  they  may  as  well 
think  of  bringing  Rome  to  Boston,  as  think  to  get  clear  of 
their  burdens.  As  in  England,  there  are  schools  for  train- 
ing horses,  to  learn  them  their  exercise,  so  popery  has 
schools  for  training  such  asses  as  they  conceive  do  not  en- 
dure their  burdens  patiently ;  dungeons,  where  neither  sun- 
shine nor  light  ever  enter  —  the  very  picture  of  the  man- 
sions of  the  dead ;  tortures,  which  furies  in  council,  only 
could  contrive,  —  are  here  the  sad  monitors  of  obedience 
to  the  most  execrable  of  mortals !  Strange,  that  nothing 
else  could  be  contrived  to  convince  the  consciences  of  men, 
but  what  is  fit  only  for  the  most  stubborn  and  sluggish  of 
animals!  Can  bodily  torture  convince  the  mind?  Can 
hunger  and  pain  give  evidence  to  absurdity?  and  confine- 
ment reconcile  contradictions!  Blessed  Jesus,  this  was 
never  thy  contrivance!  Thy  law  is  love — thy  conduct  is 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"        .     19 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

all  mercy !     And  in  his  name,  I  ask,  how  can  kingdoms 
bear  such  a  yoke?     How  can  millions  of  reasonable  crea- 
tures submit  to  such  unreasonable  and  horrible  slavery  ? 
Indeed,  any  one  would  think  it  must  have  cost  much  time 
and  pains,  thus  to  deprive  men  of  their  sense  and  reason. 
The  human  mind  must  be  sadly  depraved,  and  capable  of 
great  degradation,  to  submit  ever  to  such  abject  dupery 
and  bondage !     Can  it  be  natural  to  man,  thus  to  degener- 
ate into  a  state  of  brutal  stupefaction  ?     So  many  millions 
of  rational  beings,  endowed  with  moral  capacities,  having 
the  full  and  free  exercise  of  their  corporeal  functions,  to  sub- 
mit to  be  treated  like  brutes;  what  a  horrible  considera- 
tion !     Is  it  so,  that  the  Creator  ever  left  any  of  our  fellow 
beings  destitute  of  their  natural  and  intellectual  faculties, 
by  which  they  might  be  free,  unless  they  voluntarily  be- 
came the  worthy  subjects  of  delusion  and  despotism  ?    I 
think  not ;  and  with  his  assistance,  they  have  the  power 
of  being  free  from  such  oppression.     It  is  true,  however, 
in  this  debased  state,  they  have  lost  their  Guide,  and  are 
therefore  destitute  of  a  leader,  which  they  might  have  had, 
m  their  own  minds;  and,  hence,   are  like  Ephraim,  left 
alone  by  their  Maker,  and  all  around  them.     Yes,  their 
reason  is  enslaved  and  held  captive  by  their  delusions  and 
servile  superstitions.     But  is  there  not  some  yet  undiscov- 
ered cause,  why  men  degenerate  so  far  below  themselves? 
Can  even  the  perfect  fallen,  dark  minded  nature,  as  the 
scriptures  represent  us  all,  since  the  apostacy,  to  possess, 
relapse  so  far  into  a  state  more  debased  and  barbarous,  than 
simple  barbarism  itself?    Ah!  there  is  no  such  thing  as 
perfect  nature,  in  the  human  animal ;  did  he,  naturally, 
possess  any  purity  of  principle,  he  never  would  thus  de- 
part from  rationality.     Here  then  is  the  cause  :  the  reason 
is  duped  by  the  passions ;  and  hence  those  loco  foco  lead- 
ers, who  have  address  and  skill  sufficient  to  command  the 
one,  will  also  easily  overcome  the  other ;  and  who  does 
not  know,  that  when  men's  eyes  are  put  out,  they  grope  in 


20      ,      "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

the  dark?  O  !  Lord  Jesus,  send  the  light  of  the  gospel,  in 
its  power,  to  open  the  eyes  of  such  blinded  mortals,  that 
they  may  see  their  delusions,  see  their  true  interests,  and 
assert  their  privileges  !  And  here  we  will  further  ask,  what 
can  induce  men,  professedly  in  the  sacred  office,  thus  to 
play  the  devil  with  their  fellow  creatures  ?  Interest,  sor- 
did self-interest,  is  the  only  cause.  Long  has  this  principle 
been  the  ruling  one,  without  a  single  exception,  where  they 
have  been  true,  in  the  hearts  of  the  clergy  of  the  church  of 
Rome.  Instead  of  pointing  out  the  way  of  righteousness 
to  men,  and  faithfully  teaching  them  the  way  of  salvation, 
they  have  ever  treated  their  people  like  asses,  and  kept 
them  in  ignorance.  Who  gave  them  that  right?  Are  not 
all  men  equally  free?  "Hath  not  God  made  of  one  blood, 
all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth?"  But  thoughtless  mortals 
abandon  their  privileges  by  indolence  and  inactivity.  And, 
indeed,  what  can  man  do  without  instruction  and  intelli- 
gence !  We  all  are  infants,  before  we  are  men.  Instruc- 
tion is  necessary  to  make  us  wise.  Suffer  the  race  to  fol- 
low the  first  and  natural  bent  of  their  inclinations,  and  it 
will  be  a  miracle  if  they  do  well !  But  here,  even  nature 
is  not  suffered  to  take  her  own  way  ;  in  this  Romish  church, 
hundreds  watch  and  stand  ready  to  seduce,  betray,  de- 
base, and  destroy,  forever.  Bad  as  human  nature  is  ac- 
knowledged to  be,  men  would  not  be  so  ill,  if  they  were 
not  debased  by  their  loco  foco  seducers.  Should  those  pa- 
rents be  recognized  as  having  done  their  duty,  in  instruct- 
ing in  the  rudiments  of  true  wisdom,  who  have  never  pro- 
vided tutors  to  aid  and  conduct  us  in  the  paths  of  knowl- 
edge? I  tell  you  nay.  Such  parents  lend  a  hand  to  these 
loco  focos,  who  very  easily  now  make  their  own  of  us,  to 
the  ruin  of  both  the  body  and  the  soul ! 

Where  human  beings  are  no  sooner  out  of  the  hands  of 
their  nurses  than  they  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  loco  foco 
priests  of  the  Oracle,  whose  leading  maxim  is,  that  igno- 
rance is  the  mother  of  devotion,  how  can  they  be  expected 


"THINGSNEWANDOLD,"  21 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

to  understand  either  their  own  happiness  or  interest,  in  any 
thing?  Doubtless,  the  first,  who  gave  up  their  natural 
rights  and  privileges,  by  neglecting  to  follow  after  true 
knowledge  deserved  to  bear  a  heavy  burden:  but  what 
shall  be  said  of  their  unfortunate  children,  who,  through 
their  negligence  and  inactivity,  are  trained  up  in  ignorance ; 
and,  of  course,  cannot  know  how  to  deliver  themselves  1 
Could  not  the  dictates  of  nature,  alone,  we  ask  again,  have 
directed  tfem  otherwise  ?  Could  not  the  law  of  the  heart 
itself,  with  all  its  corruption,  still  have  admonished  them 
against  such  absurd  debasement?  Alas !  human  beings  are 
capable  of  being  instructed,  but  cannot  learn,  without  teach- 
ing. But  how  then  shall  we  vindicate  the  conduct  of  Prov- 
idence, towards  the  many  millions  of  those  who  sit  in  dark- 
ness? Why  should  children  suffer  for  the  iniquities  of  the 
fathers  ?  Should  not  the  Almighty  have  sent  them  the  means 
of  knowledge,  as  a  merciful  compensation  for  their  father's 
deficiencies?  He  has  ability  to  have  done  so.  no  doubt. 
But  what  if  we  should  here  affirm,  as  our  opinion,  that 
this  judgment  upon  several  generations  of  wretched  mor- 
tals has  been  suffered  to  continue,  because  they  have  abus- 
ed the  dictates  o£  common  sense,  and  their  own  conscience. 
To  this  day  it  is  true, — we  are  of  a  people  who  love  to  be 
duped  and  debased.  "The  loco  foco  prophets  prophecy 
for  gain,  for  a  reward — and  the  people  love  to  have  it  so." 
Therefore  justly  do  they  merit  dupery,  slavery  and  ruin, 
who  make  these  things  the  objects  of  their  choice. 

When  men  are  attempted  to  be  taught  in  principles  of 
true  or  false  and  spurious  knowledge,  they  certainly  must 
use  or  abuse  their  senses  —  false  teachers  cannot  ever  lead 
men  wrong,  without  in  some  degree  dealing  with  their  sen- 
sations. Sensation,  or  perception,  is  a  part  of  our  nature. 
Our  functions  of  feeling,  are  the  workmanship  of  our  Crea- 
tor; and  hence  only  is  it,  that  in  matters  of 'speculation,  it 
may  be  easy  to  lead  us  astray;  and  as  to  thbse  things 
which  are  not  the  objects  of  our  senses,  it  is  often,  not  dif- 


22  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ficult  for  some  species  of  loco  focos  to  impose  upon  us. 
But  to  receive,  and  believe  absurdity,  in  matters  where  our 
senses  are  competent  judges,  is  choosing  our  own  delusions. 
Suppose,  through  our  ignorance  of  testimony,  loco  focos 
may  mislead  us ;  yet  in  what  comes  within  the  notice  of 
our  perceptions,  they  cannot  mislead  us,  unless  we  please. 
The  perception  of  the  clown,  if  you  please,  in  matters 
within  his  grasp,  are,  generally,  as  quick  as  those  of  the 
philosopher ;  and  it  requires  no  more  but  to  us£  that  per- 
ception, as  to  those  things  which  are  its  objects,  to  keep 
clear  of  dupery  and  disgrace. 

Though  every  one  is  not  able  to  judge  of  the  orthodoxy 
of  a  creed,  and  the  truth  of  what  are  called  the  canons  of 
any  church,  or  falsely,  "..The  Church"  yet,  every  one  is 
able  by  the  exercise  of  hi§  senses,  to  know  that  bread  is  not 
fish,  nor  wine,  blood;  and  that  the  same  body  cannot  be  in 
millions  of  places,  at  the  sam©*time. 

When  men  thus  depart  from  common  sense,  with  which 
they  are  endowed  by  their  Maker,  it  is  but  just  to  deprive 
them  of  other  advantages,  which  it  is  probable  they  would 
give  up,  through  heedlessness,  as  they  do  their  senses. 
Our  Creator  knows,  what  use  men  would  make  of  better 
enjoyments;  and  when  he  tries  them  with  common  mercies 
which  they  abuse,  he  vindicates  his  providence,  by  with- 
holding others  of  a  higher  value,  as  a  punishment  for  the 
crime  of  abusing  those,  he  had  already  bestowed ;  on  the 
recognized  principle  the  world  over,  that  "he  that  is  faith- 
ful in  little,  will  be  faithful  also  in  much."  Such  as  are 
endowed  with  common  sense,  therefore,  and  depart  from  it, 
or  give  up  its  exercise,  but  ill  deserve  to  be  intrusted  with 
the  sublime  truths  of  our  religion  !  Indeed,  admitting  the 
being  of  our  God,  common  sense  is  the  foundation  of  per- 
sonal religion  —  such  as  depart  from,  or  are  destitute  of  it, 
cannot  in  the'  nature  of  the  case,  be  really,  truly  religious. 

When,   therefore,  we  consider  the  situation  of  many,  de- 
luded, and  debased  nations  and  people,  we  cannot  refrain 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  23 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

from  pitying  them ;  yet,  at  the  same  time,  we  cannot  hold 
them  guiltless  in  the  fmatter  of  giving  np  their  perception. 
We,  at  the  present  day,  who  have  been  so  happy  as  to  en- 
joy better  instruction  than  those  who  remain  in  ignorance, 
upon  a  little  reflection,  may  find  that  many  amongst  us 
have  little,  in  a  religious  view,  whereof  to  boast.  The 
people  of  Italy,  and  Spain,  are  not  the  only  people  who 
have  received  absurdities,  and  been  cursed  by  loco  focos. 
Not,  however,  to  come  nearer  home  at  present,  the  land  of 
our  English  ancestors,  not  two  hundred  years  since,  where 
they  then  boasted  of  freedom,  compared  with  those  upon 
the  continent  of  Europe,  presents  to  our  view  thousands, 
who  submitted  tamely  enough  to  many  atrocious  absur- 
dities. Yes,  even  in  Britain,  ra  land  then  renowned  for 
all  sorts  of  liberty — a  natfon  td  which  there  was  then 
none  equal  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  —  the  people  had 
reason,  indeed,  to  give  thanks  to  the  Almighty,  that  they 
were,  comparatively  free.  But  they  were  only  compara- 
tively so.  It  matters  not  whether  men  become  slaves,  or 
are  made  so,  if  they  are  really  in  bondage.  Issachar 
couched  down  and  became  a  slave.  To  the  charge  of 
their  sovereign,  in  Britain,  at  the  time  referred  to,  nothing 
could  be  laid  respecting  their  liberties;  but  their  laws,  fix- 
ed a  burden  upon  every  subject  in  the  kingdom.  There 
were  those  among  the  people  then,  who  said  and  preached, 
that  no  man  is  entirely  free,  who  is  subjected  to  losses  and 
disappointments  by  the  laws  of  his  country,  on  account  of 
his  religion.  They  could  not  see.  how  a  man  can  be  free, 
who,  when  faithful  to  civil  government,  and  whose  princi- 
ples taught  him  to  be  so,  was  yet  deprived  of  some  of  the 
important  advantages  of  the  government,  by  his  choice  of 
-  a  mode  in  which  to  worship  God  !  Could  he  be  free  from  a 
burden,  who  must  either  submit  to  the  "  test  act,"  contra- 
ry to  the  dictates  of  his  conscience,  or  lose  a  privilege, 
which  might  promote  the  welfare  of  himself  and  his  coun- 
try ?  The  complainants  at  that  time  reasoned,  and  they 


24  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

reasoned  correctly,  that  perhaps  it  might  b^e  easy  for  such 
as  had  enlarged  consciences,  to  call  this  no  hardship ;  and 
for  such  as  loved  to  make  a  monopoly  of  privileges,  to  say,, 
you  may  just  let  it  alone  ;  but  where  then  js  our  boasted 
liberty  1  when  it  only  consists  in  negatives  of  this  sort? 
but  even  this,  is  not  always  the  case.  Suppose  a  good  sub- 
ject were  to  refuse  the  calls  of  his  king  and  his  country, 
in  the  time  of  danger,  to  protect  them  or  help  them  out  of 
difficulty  1  On  the  one  hand,  he  might  be  reckoned  disaffect- 
'ed,  and  on  the  other,  he  would  most  clearly  act  nnconsci- 
entiously.  Here  then  the  laws  of  his  country  lay  such  a 
subject  under  bondage,  and  bring  him  into  a  grievous  di- 
lemma. This  was  a  burden,  undoubtedly  ;  however  light  it 
might  seem  to  si?bh*as  are  not  immediately  concerned  ;  but 
could  such  slavery  be  necessary,  to  make  faithful  subjects, 
and  good  members  of  society  1  Or  on  the  contrary,  did  not 
such  restrictions  tend  to  fill  all  places  of  power  and  influ- 
ence, with  the  worst  of  men? 

Strange,  indeed,  it  was,  and  ever  will  be,  that  men  cannot 
be  supposed  faithful,  just  and  good,  unless  they  kneel  down 
before  such  a  particular  altar  as  the  madness  of  the  times 
may  erect,  and  there  commune  with  the  loco  foco  church, 
at  the  expense  of  a  gross  sacrifice  of  their  own  conscience  ! 
This  was  nothing  less  than  a  snare  to  catch  the  silly  broth- 
erhood. There  certainly,  was  no  reason,  to  suspect  the 
loyalty  of  all  such  as  scrupled  to  communicate  with  their 
loco  foco  church,  nor  would  such  a  compliance  have  been 
any  evidence  of  a  faithful  member  of  society,  or  a  good 
subject.  There  is  every  reason  to  suppose,  that  persons 
who  had  bean  otherwise  brought  up,  did  not  and  could  not 
have  acted  sincerely,  in  such  a  compliance;  and  it  was  a 
most  execrable  snare  to  their  integrity.  Can  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  so  dependent  upon  the  king- 
doms of  this  world,  as  that  it  cannot  subsist,  if  any  be  ad- 
mitted to  civil  preferment  or  to  preach  his  gospel  without 
giving  such  security  for  their  behavior  towards  it?  In  what 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  25 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

part  of  the  New  Testament  do  we  find  this  alliance  be- 
tween church  and  state  founded,  —  so  that  a  man  cannot 
be  found  qualified  for  any  office  in  the  one,  without  first  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  other?  It  is  but  reasonable  to 
have  some  New  Testament  warrant,  in  a  matter  of  so  great 
importance.  Arguments  taken  from  convenience,  and  the 
alteration  of  circumstances,  will  not  bear  any  weight,  with 
an  enlightened  and  sincere  conscience  ;  till  it  is  made  good, 
once  for  all,  that  the  alterations  of  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world,  make  a  change  in  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  1  Novel  mongers,  often  have  affirmed,  as  an  excuse 
for  this  innovation,  that  our  circumstances  are  much  altered} 
since  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  and  his  apostles ;  which  is 
undoubtedly  true;  but  this,  we  trust,  does«ot  lead  to  their 
inference,  that  the  laws  of  .Christ's  kingdom  have  un- 
dergone any  alteration.  There  have  been  many  great 
alterations  since  the  Magna  Charta  of  England  was 
granted  ;  yet,  that  has  been  allowed  to  be  the  foundation 
of  their  civil  privileges  to  the  present  hour.  And  if  it  be 
true,  as  has  been  often  stated,  their  constitution  would  be 
destroyed,  if  this  was  taken  away.  The  New  Testament 
is  the  Magna  Charta  of  the  Church  of  God,  which  is  the 
kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ ;  if  once  we  make  encroachments 
upon  it,  then  the  liberties  of  the  Christian  Church  are  at 
an  end.  In  scripture  account,  adding  or  diminishing  are 
equally  destructive  of  privilege ;  and  I  think,  before  ad- 
ditions or  any  thing  is  taken  from  these  laws  and  rules  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  his  apostles  ;  they  should  be  proved  first 
defective  and  insufficient,  or  redundant.  And  if  either  of 
these  can  be  made  evident,  the  divinity  of  the  scriptures 
will  be  at  an  end,  and  there  will  be  no  gospel  congregation, 
on  earth. 

There  has  been,  at  times,  much  noise  about  the  increase 
and  spreading  of  infidelity ;  and  none  have  made  more  noise 
concerning  it,  than  those  who  have  been  the  principal  agents 
in  bringing  it  to  pass.  When  ghostly  fathers  in  councils, 


26  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

and  bishops  in  convocations,  have  made  so  free  with  the 
scriptures,  as  to  add  to  the  worship  of  God,  so  many 
"decent"  appendages,  that  never  were  appointed  by  Christ, 
nor  by  his  apostles,  and  at  the  same  time  attempt  to  prove 
the  necessity  of  these  innovations  and  appendages, — the 
legitimate  inference  from  this,  is  very  natural  and  plain  — 
that  the  scriptures  are  not  perfect  in  things  belonging  to 
Christian  duty.  If  any  man  may  begin  to  add  any  one 
thing  which  is  not  specified  in  the  word  of  God,  who  can 
tell  where  the  end  may  be?  Has  the  Holy  Spirit  been  so 
exact  in  all  things  pertaining  to  faith  and  practice  among 
Christians ;  and  yet  teen  deficient  as  to  what  is  decent  and 
comely  in  the  service  of  God ;  and  as  to  the  periods  and 
manner  in  which  we  are  to  meet  to  worship  him  ?  What 
a  blasphemous  reflection  this,  upon  the  Holy  Spirit  of  the 
Most  High  God !  The  apostles  of  our  Lord  must  have 
been  rude  and- unpolished  mortals  indeed,  to  have  had  no 
rules  of  decency  and  order,  as  to  times,  places,  and  periods 
for  their  worship  of  the  Almighty !  Strange,  that  they 
should  have  been  so  faithful  and  jealous  in  all  matters 
which  Christ  deemed  of  importance,  and  yet  left  us  in  the 
dark  as  to  what  many  now-a-days  consider  indispensables ! 
I  am  inclined  to  think,  after  all,  that  it  will  ultimately  ap- 
pear, that  though  the  apostles  had  been  fishermen,  and  were 
not  learned  like  many  modern  teachers,  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
who  inspired  them,  knew  what  was  necessary,  decent,  and 
orderly;  and  much  better  what  was  well  pleasing  to  God, 
than  all  the  modern  councils  and  convocations  that  will 
ever  be  known  on  earth.  It  is  no  hard  matter  to  account 
for  infidelity,  and  never  has  been,  when  those  who  have  as- 
sumed sacred  functions,  have  made  thus  free  to  alter  and  add 
at  their  pleasure,  in  things  pertaining  to  our  holy  religion. 
What  could  such  as  are  inquiring  and  unsettled  in  their 
principles,  infer  from  these  foul  changes,  but  that  there  is 
nothing  certain  in  Divine  revelation.  Now  is  it  not  using 
men  as  though  they  were  asses  indeed,  to  tell  them  they 


."THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  27 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

have  a  complete  revelation  of  the  will  of  God,  in  the  scrip- 
tures ;  and  then  proceed  to  impose  many  things  upon  them, 
which  are  nowhere  mentioned  in  that  revelation  ?  What, 
say  to  me,  in  one  breath,  the  will  of  God  is  plain  and  per- 
fect in  all  things  pertaining  to  holiness ;  and  with  the  next, 
allege  that  it  cannot  sufficiently  direct  us  into  truth,  and 
guard  us  against  error,  unless  it  is  set  forth  by  a  certain 
council,  or  convocation,  or  assembly,  in,  for  instance,  "thir- 
ty-nine articles,  or  thirty-three  chapters,"  sounds,  in  our 
ears,  very  much  like  a  contradiction.  Much  need  have 
men  to  be  strong  in  faith,  who  are  thus  required  to  believe 
without  evidence.  Rome  has  been  far  in  the  practice  of 
absurdities,  but  she  never  required  any  other  foundation, 
except  implicit  faith  to  build  them  all  upon ;  what  is  not 
manifestly  evident  in  the  word  of  God,  to  every  man,  who 
is  required  to  give  his  assent,  can  never  be  an  article  of  his 
faith;  he  may  be  so  complaisant  in  his  words  and  public 
profession,  as  to  believe  as  the  church  believes ;  but  he  is 
an  infidel  at  heart,  notwithstanding  such  complaisance. 

But  why  should  men  thus  be  led  into  temptation,  to  pre- 
varicate before  God  ?  Were  there  open  access  to  church 
offices  and  preferments,  to  such  as  professed  to  believe  the 
scriptures,  and  were  found  qualified ;  some  might  still  be 
infidels,  it  is  true ;  but  the  church  here,  would  have  no 
hand  in  making  them  such  ;  and  there  is  the  strongest  rea- 
son to  believe  that  infidelity  could  never  be  reared  upon 
the  doctrines  of  the  apostles,  as  Jesus  Christ  is  their  chief 
corner  stone.  The  purity  of  the  sacred  oracles,  when  di- 
rectly presented  to  the  conscience,  is  more  likely  to  present 
prevarication,  than  any  human  compositions ;  in  all  which, 
there  is  some  reason  for  suspecting  there  may  be  a  mistake- 
So  long  as  the'pure  oracles  of  God,  were  the  only  creed  of 
the  church  or  congregation  of  believers,  we  find  the  mem- 
bers more  candid  and  sincere,  than  they  ever  have  been 
since.  As  soon  as  the  doctrine  of  revelation  began  to  be 
clothed  with  a  fig-leaf-human  dress,  it  ceased  to  strike  the 


28  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,". 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

mind  with  such  reverence  and  Godly  fear ;  shortly  after, 
men  began  to  make  free  with  sin,  and  to  find  church  au- 
thority for  committing  it.  At  last,  this  produced  indulgen- 
ces for  any  and  every  kind  of  wickedness !  Now,  what 
influence  could  articles  of  religion,  framed  by  such  men, 
have,  who,  when  they  were  forming  canons  for  the  church, 
at  the  same  time  were  forming  licenses  for  all  kinds  of  wick- 
edness and  enormities  ?  Even  in  England,  it  is  not  diffi- 
cult to  find  the  same  authority  that  has  authorized  and 
sanctioned  the  book  of  canons,  meanwhile  authorizing  a 
book  of  sports,  by  which  a  license  is  given  for  any  who 
please  to  profane  the  Sabbath,  to  the  dishonor  of  Christians 
of  every  name.  Would  any  person,  of  the  least  consid- 
eration, attempt  to  reconcile  two  things  so  absolutely  con- 
trary the  one  to  the  other,  viz:  articles  of  religion,  and  yet 
a  license  to  break  them,  in  their  constant  practice^?  It 
would,  therefore,  clearly,  have  been  next  to  a  miracle,  if 
infidelity  had  not  gained  ground,  when  it  has  received  such 
strength  and  support  from  the  leaders  in  religion.  Out  of 
the  same  mouths,  could  not,  consistently,  come,  both  bles- 
sing and  cursing  —  laws  for  religion,  and  a  license  for  im- 
piety. Can  any  people  be  accounted  of  any  other  charac- 
ter but  that  of  Issachar,  in  the  text,  who  suffer  such  reli- 
gious slavery  and  absurdity  to  be  imposed  upon  them?  Is 
the  word  of  God  imperfect,  that  it  cannot  direct  men  in  all 
matters  of  religion,  without  it  is  clothed  with  human  inven- 
tions, and  the  authority  of  the  church  ?  He  is  a  Christian, 
who  submits  to  the  yoke  of  Christ  —  but  a  slave,  who  takes 
on  any  other.  Shall  men  dare  impose  any  other  burdens 
than  the  "  easy  and  light  burden"  which  has  been  offered 
by  the  Saviour  ?  Now,  therefore,  let  us  be  Christians  —  not 
slaves ;  not  couch  down  between  two  burdens ;  but  stand 
fast  in  that  liberty  where\yith  Christ  hath  made  us  free  ; 
and  not  suffer  ourselves  to  be  entangled  in  any  yoke  of 
bondage.  To  conclude:  whenever  men  are  required  to  be- 
lieve any  thing  upon  human  authority  in  matters  of  reli- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  29 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

gion ;  or  to  worship  God,  in  any  other  manner  than  they 
are  required  in  the  scriptures,  it  is  a  burden  of  religious 
slavery,  and  not  the  yoke  of  Christ.  They  do  not  deserve 
to  be  recognized  as  rational  creatures,  to  say  nothing  of 
Christian  character,  who  tamely  give  up  their  reason  and 
their  Bible,  to  the  hands  of  religious  seducers  and  oppres- 
sors. Well  do  they  deserve  a  burden  of  a  religious  slavery, 
who  thus  tamely  couch  down  to  take  it  on.  But  will  you 
part  with  common  sense  —  give  up  your  right  of  private 
judgment  to  the  dictates  of  religious  loco  focos  ?  Rather 
emulate  the  character  of  Napthali,  who  is  represented  as 
"a  hind  let  loose/'  an  asserter  of  liberty;  but  "  Issachar 
is  a  strong  ass,  forever — he  will  couch  down  between  two 
burdens.  O  !•  my  God  —  give  all  men  a  knowledge  of  their 
privileges ;  and  wisdom,  and  zeal,  and  skill,  to  maintain 
them ;  and  to  Thy  name,  be  glory,  forever,  amen 


SERMON  II. 


GEN.  XLIX,  14  : 

ISSACHAR   is  A    STRONG    ASS,  COUCHING  DOWN   BETWEEN   TWO 

BURDENS. 

WE  CAN  have  no  objection  to  this  pressure  upon  any  class 
of  its  subjects ;  let  it  bare  hard  upon  them,  until  they  learn 
their  own  interest,  and  shake  it  off.  But  still,  I  could  de- 
voutly wish,  that  Issachar's  children  had  been  all  appointed 
to  death,  in  the  first  generation ;  yet,  infinite  wisdom  had 
otherwise  ordained,  and  I  must,  (no  doubt,  ungraciously,) 
submit.  Yes,  a  very  numerous  offspring  of  his  descend- 
ants, still  disgrace  this  footstool  of  God ;  men,  to  this  hour, 
are  dupes  and  beasts  of  burden,  even  in  nations  called 
Christian.  The  sons  of  Issachar,  are  in  the  church,  and 
in  the  state;  in  all  churches  and  states, — from  the  min- 
ions of  Princes  and  Presidents,  —  Prime  Ministers,  and 
Presbyters,  —  Popes,  Cardinals,  Bishops,  and  Clergy,  — 
throughout  Christendom.  The  seed  of  Issachar  fills  all 
the  houses  of  nobles,  knights  and  squires ;  and  some  of 
them  eat  at  their  tables,  while  many  serve  behind  them. 
There  is  scarcely  an  office  in  what  is  called,  falsely  —  the 
church,  or  under  any  crown,  but  some  of  that  ignoble 
progeny,  possess  it  in  all  countries.  The  courts,  and  the 
convocations,  the  church,  and  the  theatre,  are  alike  cram- 
med with  Issachar's  descendants ;  from  the  conclave,  in  the 
Vatican  and  Cathedral,  down  to  the  smallest  dissenting  con- 
gregation, we  may  see  thousands  deceived  and  debased  by 


32  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

some  of  the  long  eared  loco  foco  sons  of  Issachar,  in  Place. 
In  all  places  of  public  concourse,  the  beautiful  children  of 
Issachar,  make  the  greater  portion  of  the  parties;  whoever 
attends  any  place  of  public  concourse,  may  see  for  himself,  a 
great  proportion  so  stupid  and  thoughtless,  that  they  every 
day  bring  themselves  under  and  submit  to  dupery,  and  ex- 
penses, sacrifices,  and  burdens,  which  a  little  foresight  and 
energy  might  most  easily  have  prevented. 

At  the  same  Jime,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  there  are 
many  burdens  fixed  upon  men,  by  the  stupidity  of  bygone 
generations,  which  even  those  who  would,  cannot  so  easi- 
ly, get  clear  of.  Many  such,  are  seen  and  endured  in 
our  own  times.  May  the  Lord  help  such,  as  are  forced  to 
any  drudgery  of  slavery  against  their  inclination,  and  give 
them  a  speedy  and  eternal  deliverance.  Our  English  an- 
cestors only  about  two  hundred  years  since,  more  or  less, 
lived  under  a  government,  which  promised  ail  the  subjects 
a  consideration  of  grievances,  if  they  were  faithfully  repre- 
sented ;  it  was  surely,  then,  one  might  say,  their  own  fault 
if  they  bore  burdens.  Their  burdens,  nevertheless,  were 
often  heavy,  and  their  cry  for  consideration  and  redress, 
was  loud  and  long  too —  but  proper  and  just  redress  was 
not  obtained.  Some  have  suggested  that  they,  after  all, 
did  not  properly  prepare  themselves  for  deliverance,  or  that 
they  did  not  apply  for  it  with  sufficient  earnestness,  arid 
make  use  of  the  proper  means;  but,  for  a  long  time  groaned 
like  asses,  and  made  no  such  effort  as  the  occasion  re- 
quired at  their  hands.  Now,  be  this  as  it  may,  I  shall  now 
proceed  to  review  some  of  the  grievous  burdens,  which  our 
ancestors  at  that  time  in  England,  bore,  and  some  of  the 
methods  which  many  among  them  tried,  to  get  them  re- 
moved. 

In  the  first  place,  there  was  the  burden  of  taxes  upon 
the  poor,  which  they  were  not  able  to  bear.  This  needs  no 
proof,  for  it  was  sufficiently  felt,  that  they  were  compelled 
to  bare  heavy  duties,  on  the  very  necessaries  of  life.  It 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  .33 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

might  have  been,  for  aught  we  know,  in  some  measure,  re- 
quired, for  paying  public  expenses,  that  they  were  thus  bur- 
dened ;  but  there  certainly  ought  to  have  been  more  regard 
paid  to  the  strength  of  the  beasts  of  burden.  All  asses  are 
not  equally  strong  —  they  should  be  burdened  only  accord- 
ing to  their  strength  and  abilities.  Meat,  drink,  and  cloth- 
ing, should  have  been  as  easy  as  possible  —  things  without 
which  they  could  not  live,  should  have  had  but  a  small  tax 
upon  them.  The  poor  cannot  well  live  wjth  less  necessary 
food,  than  the  rich ;  neither  ought  they  to  go  naked.  There 
must  have  been  some  particular  reason  why  they  did  not  have 
the  necessaries  of  life  according  to  their  need  —  the  very 
shoes  for  their  feet  were  taxed.  They  enjoyed  no  lights  in 
their  windows,  without  paying  a  duty  to  the  government. 
I  may  be  here  under  a  mistake,  as  they  might  have  paid 
for  their  windows  and  candles,  but  not  for  the  light  of  them. 
Still,  the  window,  the  candle,  and  the  light,  are  so  nearly 
related,  that  in  many  cases,  we  cannot  well  separate  them. 
But  whatever  might  have  been  the  theory,  in  these  things, 
there  were  none  so  stupid  as  not  to  feel  them  in  practice. 
There  were  several  things,  we  think,  which  might  have 
borne  duty  better,  than  those  by  which  the  poor  lived. 
They  should  have  made  all  the  superfluities  of  life,  pay, 
but  why  should  they  oppress  the  poor?  Even  asses,  have 
a  claim  to  pity ;  the  merciful  man  is  merciful  towards  his 
beast.  We  admit,  there  is  no  reasoning  against  power, 
when  there  is  no  law  to  restrain  it ;  but  as  they  had  laws, 
professedly  securing  each  one's  privileges,  why  should  any 
subject  have  been  oppressed?  They  certainly  had  safe 
ground  for  complaint,  even  while  they  had  no  reason  for 
expecting  immediate  redress.  All  will  readily  suppose,  that 
there  should  be  some  proportion  between  the  burdens  laid 
upon  the  poor,  and  the  dearness  of  the  necessary  provisions, 
and  the  quantity  of  current  money ;  one  of  these,  should 
certainly  have  taken  place ;  for  without  such  an  order,  their 
taxes  could  not  be  lessened ;  provisions  could  be  no  cheaper, 
3 


34  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

nor  could  money  have  been  more  plenty.  As  to  the  theory 
of  these  matters  and  things,  or  how  they  might  have  been 
ballanced,  in  the  ingenious  economy  of  tlieir  prime  minis- 
ter; that  is  not  our  province  to  say;  but  we  think  every  one 
might  have  said,  when  he  was  oppressed,  that  he  was  not 
free.  When  they  were  doing  to  their  utmost  endeavors  to 
serve  their  king  and  country,  it  was  hard  that  they  should 
have  been  scarcely  able  to  subsist,  when  the  quantity  of 
provisions  in  their  kingdom,  was  abundant. 

When  demands  were  made  upon  the  lower  classes,  for 
the  ordinary  rate  of  such  duty,  as  was  then  imposed  upon 
our  English  ancestors,  by  the  government,  they  of  course, 
were  obliged  to  pay,  or  be  distressed ;  but  they  could  neither 
raise  their  wages,  nor  lower  the  price  of  provisions.     And 
if  they  complained,  they  did  not  for  a  long  time,  complain 
so  as  to  be  heard ;  and  when  they  resisted,  they  were  be- 
labored,  like  asses;    or  when,  through  hunger  and  want, 
they  were  compelled  to  rise  up  to  relieve  themselves,  they 
had  to  wait  the  issue  of  a  trial,  in  some  court  of  justice,  as 
it  was  called,  where  the  consequences,  in  many  cases,  were 
too  horrible  to  be  related  !     God  of  mercy!  no  people  would 
rise  in  mobs  to  disturb  the  peace,  if  tney  could  avoid  it,  who 
had  been  so  ready  in  time  of  war,  to  hazard  their  lives  to 
preserve  it!     It  was  pinching  hunger,  that  was  the  cause 
of  their  risings  !     There  might  have  been  some  few,  who 
joined  in  riots  without  cause,  —  but,  at  that  period,  British 
subjects  loved  their  king,  and  country  too  dearly,  uneces- 
sarily  to  disturb  the  peace.     Reasonable  duty  all  good  sub- 
jects, are  ever  disposed  to  obey;  but  when  the  weight  thus 
lay  upon  the  poor,  where  was  the  reasonableness  of  the 
tax?    Indeed,  it  was  no  reflection  upon  their  king,  that  the 
poor  were  oppressed,  for  he  did  not  make  the  laws ;  the 
subjects  oppressed  one  another ;  like  the  fishes  of  the  sea, 
the  great,  powerful,  loco  focos,  devoured  the  small  fry; 
there  was  only  this  difference  between  fishes  and  these  land 
sharks  — the  latter  destroyed  by  law. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  35 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

We  have  not  mentioned  the  names  and  number  of  the 
burden  of  taxes,  with  which  they  were  oppressed ;  they  are 
well  known.  The  very  paper  they  wrote  on,  did  not  es- 
cape 'the  excise.  That,  however,  might  have  been  less 
objectionable  than  other  things ;  as  men  may  live  without 
writing  at  all;  but  they  cannot  live  without  food  and  rai- 
ment. In  divers  particulars,  the  poorer  sort  of  subjects 
were  not  free ;  but  were  obliged  to  couch  down  between 
two  burdens ;  the  one  of  taxes,  and  the  other  an  accursed 
artificial  scarcity,  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  Yet,  they  ajl 
the  while,  had  this  liberty,  above  people  under  absolute 
power;  to  utter  their  complaints  without  danger,  provided 
they  made  no  rash  attempts  to  ease  themselves  of  their  bur- 
dens. But,  for  all  this  burden  of  taxes,  there  was  some 
show  of  reason ;  the  government,  bad  as  it  was,  must  be 
supported  —  the  constant  debt  of  the  nation  must  be  paid 
off ;  pensioners  must  be  maintained  —  and  clerks'  dues  must 
be  discharged.  All  these  things,  the  valet  de  chambere,  of 
a  minister  of  state,  understands,  better  than  I  can  pretend 
to.  But  there  was  :  — 

Secondly,  a  burden  which  many  of  his  majesty's  sub- 
jects were  obliged  to  couch  down  under,  for  which  we  can 
see  no  reason  at  all :  to  pay  for  bread  and  wine,  they  never 
tasted ;  to  entertain  people  they  had  no  business,  nor  con- 
cern with,  whatever.  Though  it  was  law,  it  was  not  jus- 
tice, to  make  persons  pay  for  other's  provisions,  who  were 
abundantly  able  to  do  it  themselves.  But  why  should  they 
pay  for  the  bread  and  wine  made  use  of  at  Easter,  and  not 
also  for  what  was  used  every  other  month  in  the  year? 
This,  perhaps,  was  meant  for  the  year  ;  still,  it  was  far  too 
much  for  those  to  pay,  who  made  no  use  of  it.  They  were 
told  they  might  use  it,  if  they  would  !  They  might,  in- 
deed, if  they  would !  Were  they  to  be  compelled  to  eat, 
by  paying?  Did  the  government  boast  of  liberty,  and  yet 
compel  the  people,  in  matters  of  religion,  by  such  taunt- 
ing with  their  best  feelings.  True,  they  were  not  compel- 


36  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

led  to  eat  and  drink,  but  they  were  compelled  to  pay.     And 
we  may  ask,  where  is  the  reason  for  that?-   If  it  had  been 
charity,  it  would  have  been  due ;  but  where  was  the  right- 
eousness of  the  demand  1    Ah !  it  savored  much  of  a  law 
excogitated  at  Rome,  several  hundred  years  before !     We 
admit  it  is  reasonable  for  every  communicant  to  be  bound 
to  pay ;  but  why  should  dissenters  have  a  tax  imposed  upon 
them  'I    Especially    when   they   had  no    free-hold  estate: 
Must  every  householder  pay   for  what  he  never  has  any 
benefit  by  7     This  is,  indeed,  such  a  burden,  as  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  laid,  in  old  times,  upon  the  common  people. 
But  here,  let  us  ask,  what  law  of  Christ  and  his  Apostles, 
was  all  this,   founded  upon?     It  should  be  founded,  some- 
where, in  the  New  Testament ;  for  it  relates  to  Christianity. 
Non-conformists,   would  have  paid  it  for  conscience  sake, 
had  they  been  shown  that  it  was  required  in  the  Gospel. 
It  was,  surely,  neither  decent  nor  orderly,   to  make  a  feast 
and  oblige  every  one  to  pay  for  it,  whether  their  conscience 
allowed  of  their  doing  it  or  not?     This,  was  using  our  fore- 
fathers like  asses  with  a  vengeance.     Such  would  very  ill 
deserve  communion  with  their  Savior,   as  were  not  willing 
to  bear  their  part,  "in  the  expense  of  the  outward  elements 
of  that  communion.     Call  it  charity,  or  prove  it  scriptural, 
and  all  good  Christians  would  have  freely  paid  it  for  con- 
science sake.     But,  for  their  money,  it  was  reasonable  that 
they  should  have  had  some  satisfaction  for  it.     Any  gov- 
ernment, or  any  people,  not  past  all  shame,  ought  to  have 
blushed  to  demand  a  thing  for  a  religious  use,  which  they 
could  produce  no  warrant  for,  from  the  word  of  God.     The 
love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil ;  and  the  passion  for 
it,  has  prevailed  no  where  more,  than  near  the  altar.     Ah  ! 
those  Priests !     They  made  their  dupes,    pay   for  every 
thing — they  caught  them  as  soon  as  they  came  into  the 
world,  and  never  lost  sight  of  them,  except  some  broke 
away,  until  they  returned  to  dust.     Mothers,   had  to  pay 
for  bearing  them,  and  fathers  for  having  them  baptized ! 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  37 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

At  their  marriage,  and  at  their  burial,  the  loco  foco  Priests 
must  be  paid.  When  they  came  into  the  world,  and  when 
they  went  out  of  it.  these  clerical  loco  foco's  set  a  price  upon 
their  heads!  And  yet,  all  this  did  not  satisfy — this,  indeed, 
might,  in  some  cases,  have  been  forgiven, — but  as  long  as 
the  people's  heads  were  on  their  bodies,  they  must  pay  the 
priests,  every  year,  for  using  them — so  that  they  could 
truly  say,  to  their  priests,  all  our  things  are  yours — you 
must  taste  of  all  our  substance,  the  tithe  of  all  we  have 
that  is  valuable,  and  suitable  for  yon,  is  yours.  You  tell 
us  tithes  were  appointed  under  the  law,  for  the  tribe  of 
Levi,  and  the  sons  of  the  priesthood.  Aye!  but  here  they 
might  have  turned  and  said  to  them,  ye  loco  foco  Levites, 
our  master,  Jesus  Christ,  was  not  of  your  tribe.  He  came 
from  a  tribe  which  did  not  serve  al  the  altar;  and  he  did 
not  institute  any  priests,  nor  give  any  laws  concerning 
tithes.  As,  therefore,  we  are  Christians,  you  can  make  no 
just  demands  of  this  sort,  from  us.  Let  such  as  adhere  to 
the  Jewish  system,  pay  tithes, — but  what  have  we  to  do, 
with  the  sons  of  Levi,  under  the  gospel?  -Oh,  Lord  Jesus, 
our  Savior — thou  earnest  into  the  world  to  set  thy  follow- 
ers, free  from  bondage  and  slavery ;  to  give  them  deliver- 
ance from  the  law  of  Moses ;  but  our  puritan  ancestors,  for 
a  long  time,  groaned  beneath  a  load  of  slavery,  which  the 
gospel  no  where  warrants,  but  which  a  government,  called 
after  thy  name,  fixed  upon  them  by  law.  Thy  Apostles, 
received  no  tithes — for  they  were  Christians ;  meek  and 
humble,  like  thee  —  they  loved  to  set  men  free ;  but  never, 
to  oppress  them.  They  testified  against  the  ceremonial 
law,  at  the  peril  of  their  lives — and  proclaimed  to  all 
Christians,  that  law  did  not  profit  —  and  to  such  as  ob- 
served it,  Christ  did  profit  them  nothing.  But  when  our 
fathers  reasoned  thus,  they  were  met  with  the  reply,  very 
common  with  us,  from  our  loco  foco,  (new  school  heretics.) 
"Circumstances  are  much  altered  since  Apostolic  times;" 
but  we  believe  the  change,  in  circumstances  referred  to,  has 


38  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

not  been  for  the  better,  but  for  the  worse.  Yes,  it  was  a 
*  great  burden,  upon  our  fathers  to  be  obliged  to  support  a 
Jewish  priesthood,  under  the  gospel. — Priesthood!  Our 
fathers  had  to  go  far  back  to  find  such  an  office.  There 
had  been  none,  since  Jesus  Christ  put  an  end  to  it.  It  was, 
exclusively,  an  Old  Testament  office.  In  the  New  Testa- 
ment all  believers  are  priests  —  a  royal  priesthood.  But  it 
was  of  no  use,  to  oppose  the  English  law,  with  gospel  dec- 
larations—  the  high  church  liturgy,  cried  continually,  we 
have  priests,  and  they  must  have  tithes. 

Self-denial,  is  an  essential  part  of  our  religion  —  let  a 
man  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me  — 
which  originally,  was  understood  to  mean,  that  believers, 
were  not  to  be  conformed  to  the  world,  nor  to  seek  great 
things,  for  themselves ; — but  it  seems  to  have  been  found 
since,  in  different  places,  and  ages,  to  signify  the  contrary 
—  in  some  cases,  it  means,  that  it  is  the  highest  evidence  of 
self-denial,  to  enjoy  a  living  of  several  thousands  a  year, 
and  do  no  mischief  with  it;  that  there  is  more  humility, 
in  rich,  well  furnished  tables,  when  a  man  is  able  to  afford 
them,  than  in  moderation,  temperance,  and  abs'tinence  — 
that  it  is,  indeed,  a  greater  evidence  of  a  true  Christian  to 
behave  well,  in  the  midst  of  riches,  than  in  poverty.  Our 
admitting  here,  that  it  is  a  rarer  thing,  for  people  to  behave 
well,  in  the  posession  of  wealth,  does  not  however  elevate 
the  piety  of  the  loco  focos  of  the  high  church,  at  all, — and 
never  can  be  any  evidence  of  true  religion.  We  have  very 
little  reason  to  challenge  such  as  have  their  good  things  in 
this  life,  when  they  do  not  live  by  oppressing  others  by  un- 
just claims  and  demands;  but  when  such  as  make  a  show 
of  religion,  in  will  worship,  make  others  who  are  not  con- 
cerned with  them,  bear  the  expense  of  it;  it  is  our  duty  to 
put  them  in  mind,  of  what  they  should. be.  Must  chris- 
tians,  good  subjects,  be  loaded  like  asses  by  priests,  as  the 
Jews  were,  when  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world?  When 
they  asked  privileges,  our  fathers  would  cheerfully  have 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  39 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

paid  —  but  after  paying  his  Majesty's  duty,  what  reason 
was  there,  for  .paying  for  other  people's  religion,  which 
neither  they,  nor  any  other  beings  could  have  been  benefit-" 
ted  by  I  When  religion,  as  in  their  times,  is  turned  into  a 
policy,  and  made  subservient  to  private  interest,  it  will  ever 
bring  tyranny  along  with  it.  Oppression  is  inseparably 
connected  with  religion,  when  it  is  made  the  tool  of  un- 
godly ambition,  and  the  road  to  preferment.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  understand,  as  the  New  Testament  was  given 
as  a  rule  for  gospel  churches,  or  congregations  of  believers, 
why  Providence  did  not  condescend  to  give  us  an  example, 
in  what  state  of  preferment,  the  members  of  the  church, 
should  be  held;  for  if  any  of  the  several,  state  religious 
establishments,  be,  gospel  churches,  there  is  no  pattern  of 
them,  whatever,  in  the  New  Testament.  Antiquity,  makes 
nothing  to  the  purpose,  when  the  scriptures  are  silent.  One 
might  reasonably  suppose,  that  to  affect  a  state,  of  dignity, 
riches,  power,  and  splendor,  some  scripture  precept,  or  pre- 
cedent, would  be  requisite  to  authorize  the  attempt.  But, 
said  their  opponents,  circumstances  did  not  permit  —  the 
world  was  heathen ;  and  religion  had  no  magistrate  to  pro- 
tect it.  This  was  true — but  God  could  have  given  us  an 
example,  of  the  state  churches  should  be  in.  At  least  he 
could  have  told  us  in  his  word,  what  he  intended  should 
be  the  highest  pitch  of  church  preferment.  If  he  has  left 
this  matter  to  the  discretion  of  men,  we  shall  never  know 
when  it  has  reached  its  height ;  and  there  is  nothing  cer- 
tain about  it.  As  we  have  an  example  of  gospel  congrega- 
tions, or  churches,  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  and  there 
are  no  other  prescribed  in  the  scriptures,  we,  I  think,  with 
our  authodox  fathers  in  England,  may,  very  wisely,  con- 
clude, that  there  can  be  no  other. 

It  would  be  an  attempt  to  stigmatize  the  providence  and 
wisdom  of  God,  to  affirm,  that  the  rules  of  preferment  in 
the  church  of  Christ,  were  left  to  be  settled,  after  he  with- 
drew the  Spirit  of  Inspiration,  without  so  much  as  giving 


40  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

the  least  hint,  which  favors  any  of  those  large  societies,  in 
the  world,  called  national  churches.  If  men,  be  compelled 
to  pay  for  the  support  of  such  ecclesiastical  dignities,  it  is 
but  right  that  they  should  be  shown  some  authority  for  it, 
in  the  New  Testament;  on  any  other  ground,  if  the  mag- 
istrate pleased,  he  might  with  the  same  propriety,  require 
us  to  support  the  priests  of  Jupiter-Ammon  ;  and  it 
would  equally  bind  the  conscience  of  a  believer  in  the  New 
Testament,  to  obey  the  law,  for  paying  tithes,  to  bishops 
and  their  clejgy.  To  pretend  a  right  to  demand  church 
dues  from  dissenters  from  the  church,  more  than  the  con- 
stitution, rightly  understood,  and  the  gospel  gives,  was  in- 
deed, treating  our  fathers  like  asses — a  foul  attempt  to  de- 
prive them  of  both  their  money,  and  their  senses. 

Though  men  of  any  religion  at  all,  will  not  disobey  the 
laws  of  the  magistrate,  yet,  they  cannot  believe,  unless 
they  give  up  the  use  of  their  reason,  that  the  church  has 
any  other  claim,  but  what  the  magistrate  gives  her, — and 
even  when  they  pay  their  dues  to  such,  as  it  is  his  Majes- 
ty's pleasure  to  honor ;  they  cannot  help  thinking,  and 
saying,  they  are  ill-applied,  and  the  king  is  badly  informed. 
Christians,  though  they  may  bear  their  burdens  with  pa- 
tience, when  they  cannot  obtain  redress,  would  yet  be 
meaner  than  asses,  to  bear  them  long,  tamely,  when  they 
might  obtain  it.  It  is  plain  to  us,  that  had  the  dissenters 
from  the  church  of  England,  in  a  body,  long  before  they 
took  the  name  of  Puritans,  faithfully  presented  their  case 
to  the  Parliament,  they  would  have  obtained  a  deliverance 
from  many  of  the  grievances,  whicji  they  couched  down 
under.  Could  his  majesty,  and  the  great  council  of  the 
nation,  have  persisted  in  its  being  reasonable  for  peaceable 
and  worthy  subjects,  to  be  compelled  to  bear  such  ungodly 
burdens?  Especially  where  they  took  upon  themselves  the 
expense  of  maintaining  their  own  way  of  worshipping  God  1 
What!  Insist  on  their  paying  for  the  godless  state  establish- 
ment, beside  paying  every  dollar,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OL.D,"  41 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

had  required  of  them?  If  that  part  of  the  subjects,  called 
Protestant  dissenters,  were  fit  for  many  purposes,  for  the 
good  of  the  nation,  in  a  civil  capacity ;  why  should  they 
not  enjoy  as  extensive  religious  liberty,  as  they  did  civil 
privileges?  Or  was  there  any  reason,  why  they  should 
pay,  equally  with  the  members,  in  support  of  that  infa- 
mous establishment,  from  the  pomp  and  splendor  of  which 
no  human  being  will  ever  find  he  has  been  spiritually  ben- 
efitted.  Although  the  dissenters  were  thus  burdened  with- 
out their  consent,  as  they  could  not  prevent,  nor  hinder  the 
legislature  from  imposing  upon  them,  having  none  to  rep- 
resent them  in  the  great  council  of  the  nation;  still  it  would 
have  been  stupidity  in  them  not  to  have  complained.  It 
was,  doubtless,  a  burden  upon  all  such  as  did  not,  nor 
could  in  conscience,  join  in  communion  with  the  church  of 
England,  yet  be  obliged  to  pay  to  support  an  ostentatious 
establishment,  without  any  warrant  from  the  New  Testa- 
ment. But  when  men  have  the  hardihood  to  impose  upon 
our  consciences,  we  cannot  think  it  strange  if  they  proceed 
to  impose  upon  our  purses.  And,  indeed,  we  may  rea- 
sonably ask,  what  a  contemptible  religion  that  must  be  in 
the  view  of  any  intelligent  Christian,  which  stands  in  need 
of  any  thing  to  support  it,  but  what  proceeds  from  volun- 
tary consent,  and  sincere  good  will?  Is  it  not  strange,  that 
men  should  ever  think  that  the  Christian  religion  cannot 
maintain  its  ground,  by  the  same  means  through  the,  use  of 
which  it  gained  it?  But  peradventure  it  may  be  said,  that 
inspiration,  and  the  extraordinary  providence  of  God,  made 
it  gain  ground  here,  but  when  those  ceased,  there  was  need 
of  some  other  security  ?  Indeed  !  then  we  may  say,  we 
have  changed  much  for  the  worse,  if  human  associations 
and  organizations,  and  legal  establishments  have  come,  and 
blasphemously  usurped  the  province  of  God's  extraordinary 
assistance ! 

But  we  here,  may  affirm,  that  since  the  revelation  of  God 
to  man,  is  long  since  completed,  and  we  are  assured  by 


42  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

Himself,  that  we  have  all  the  dictates  of  his  will,  which 
are  needed  for  our  guidance  into  all  truth,  and  the  addi- 
tional promise  of  his  Spirit,  to  lead  us  to  it,  that  this  is 
sufficient,  in  our  view,  to  secure  the  preservation  of  the  reli- 
gion of  the  Bible  in  this  world,  till  time  shall  be  terminated 
by  the  sound  of  the  last  trump.  All  that  human  laws,  or 
human  associations,  and  organizations,  can  do,  in  securing 
and  preserving  our  religion,  is  to  make  men  say,  they  are 
religious.  Such  agencies,  can  never  reach  the  conscience, 
nor  make  any  man  believe  a  doctrine  till  he  has  that  evi- 
dence of  it  which  it  is  the  sole  province  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  to  bestow.  Yes,  indeed,  religion  is  better  secured 
without  establishments  than"  with  them  —  but  we  know, 
and  so  do  all  our  loco  foco  priests,  that  good,  fat  livings  and 
benefices,  are  not.  The  naked  promise  of  God,  is  with  us, 
a  sufficient  security|for  religion.  The  church,  which  is  the 
congregation  of  all  real4believers,  in  all  time,  is  built  upon 
and  by  the]!doc trine,  of  the_  Prophets  and  Apostles,  Jesus 
Christ  himself,  being  the  chief  corner  stone. 

In  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  the  church  of  God,  had  not 
received  the  New  Testament  oracles  into  her  possession. 
The  Apostles  were  sent,  under  the  constant  control  of  the 
Hbly  Spirit,  as  really  to  communicate  the  mind  of  the 
Lord,  as  to  convert  men  to  his  plan  of  salvation.  Evan- 
gelists, and  other  teachers,  in  that  extraordinary  age,  were 
also  given  by  God,  and  sent  by  the  Apostles,  to  those  pla- 
ces where  the  gospel  had  been  received.  These  mes- 
sengers were  sent,  and  attended  every  where,  by  the  Ho- 
ly Ghost,  until  the  whole  of  the  sacred  Oracles  were  given, 
and' received  by  believers,  or  the  church.  The  Evangel- 
ists were  endowed  with  the  spirit  of  infalible  interpreta- 
tion, as  the  Apostles  had  been  endowed  with  the  spirit  of 
unerring  inspiration.  These  elders,  teachers  or  evangelists, 
had  no  liberty  to  depart  from  the  Apostolical  instructions : 
but  were  obliged  to  hold,  fast,  to  the  form  of  sound  words 
or  doctrine,  which  they  had  received  from  them.  Their 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  43 

TO  DIVERSE,   NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

use,  in  the  churches,  or  among  believers,  was  to  determine 
what  was,  or  was  not.  truly  apostolical.  By  such  evan- 
gelists, it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  Christian  churches,  or  con- 
gregations, would  be  preserved  from  receiving  any  spurious 
writings  or  innovations  from  new  school  men,  or  loco  focos 
of  their  times,  in  place  of,  or  in  connection  with,  the  dic- 
tates of  Divine  inspiration.  But,  when  revelation  was  com- 
pleted and  received  by  the  church,  then  religion  was  es- 
tablished ;  and  now.  that  word,  which  from  the  mouths  of 
the  apostles,  converted  so  many  to  Christianity,  was  left  for 
their  complete  confirmation  in  the  faith,  and  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world.  Hence,  there  is  need  of  no  farther  in- 
spiration, since  we  have  all  which  the  apostles  received, 
and  which  God  considered  of  any  power  o*r  mightiness,  in 
the  work  of  pulling  down  all  the  strong  holds  and  immagi- 
nations,  and  every  high  thing  that  exalted  itself  against  the 
kingdom  of  God.  All  this  armory,  which  was  then  in  the 
hands  of  the  apostles,  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  church, 
or  the  congregation  of  believers,  to  the  end  of  time. 

We  think  the  apostle  has  himself,  given  a  satisfactory 
reason  why  the  Christian  church  may  continue  to  stand. 
This  congregation  is  girded  with  the  WHOLE  ARMOR  OF  GOD; 
whereby  they  are  able  to  resist  the  firey  darts  of  the 
wicked  one ;  and  to  stand  fast,  in  the  evil  day.  The  whole 
passage  deserves  a  place  here :  "Wherefore,  take  unto  you 
the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  withstand 
in  the  evil  day ;  and  having  done  all,  to  stand.  Stand, 
therefore,  having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and 
having  on  the  breast  plate  of  righteousness,  and  your  feet 
shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace;  above 
all  things,  taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith  ye  shall 
be  able  to  quench  all  the  firery  darts  of  the  wicked ;  and 
take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
which  is  the  word  of  God."  Can  there  be  a  better  estab- 
lishment of  religion,  than  this?  Can  there  be  any  better 
security  for  Christianity,  than  the  WORD  OF  GOD?  The 


44  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

word  of  God,  is  unchangable,  and  cannot  alter;  neither  is 
it  possible  for  the  gates  of  hell,  to  prevail  against  his 
church,  though  there  never  should  have  been,  or  never 
should  be,  any  such  thing  as  a  civil  establishment,  or  civil 
association,  or  organization,  in  the  world.  Believers  are 
never  in  the  dark  from  deficiency  of  inspiration,  in  that 
sense,  in  which  the  aposlles  had  it;  for  in  that  sense,  they 
do  not  need  it ;  as  the  WORD  OF  GOD,  is  mighty  for  all  the 
purposes  of  conviction,  conversion,  edification,  and  frui- 
tion, to  the  church,  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Such  carnal  weapons,  as  acts  of  legislatives  bodies,  and 
civil  tinkerings,  associations,  organizations,  &c.,  &c.,  our 
religion  does  not  need,  nor  can  they  be  so  applied  unto  it, 
as  not  to  do  mischief  to  both  the  souls  arid  bodies  of  men. 
The  weapons  of  our  warfare,  are  not  -carnal;  yet  mighty 
—  to  pull  down  !  And  of  such  weapons  of  defence,  as  the 
apostles  had,  every  Christian  is  now  in  full  and  complete 
possession.  Decrees  of  councils,  therefore,  and  the  so  called 
"canons"  of  the  church,  are  but  carnal  weapons;  as  yet, 
they  have  always  been  framed  through  the  manifest  influ- 
ence of  carnal  policy,  by  men  who  possessed,  altogether, 
an  undue  share  of  influence  in  the  management  of  the 
kingdoms  and  affairs  of  this  world  ;  and  who,  therefore, 
could  not  be  expected  to  keep  strictly  to  the  rules  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ.  The  most  charitable  construction  that 
can  be  put  upon  anything,  and  all,  that  ever  is  done  by 
men  in  the  way  of  forming  laws,  in  favor  of  Christianity, 
is,  that  they  are  building  hay  and  stuble,  upon  the  founda- 
tion of  the  apostles  !  Oh !  what  Issachers,  would  such 
church-guides  make  us?  by  laying  upon  our  shoulders  such 
ponderous  burdens,  as  .their  ecclesiastical  constitutions  — 
human  creeds,  and  human  articles  of  association,  and  or- 
ganizations, when  every  child,  who  reads,  understandingly, 
his  New  Testament,  may  easily  see  the  pitiable  and  con- 
temptible, and  execrable,  futility,  of  all  such  things.  If 
we  are  the  disciples  of  men,  we  are  not  the  disciples  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"        •     45 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE    FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

CIVIL  burdens  maybe  borne — but  religious  slavery  is 
insupportable;  to  bear  either,  tamely,  evinces  an  ass-like 
disposition.     With  respect  to  the  first,  when  there-  is  no 
remedy,  nor  hopes  of  redress,  it  is  Christian-like,  to  exer- 
cise patience,  and  be  obe'dient  to  the  powers  which  exercise 
authority ;  but  nought  else  but  stupidity  will  couch  down 
and  take  a  burden.     When  a  burden  is  laid  on  by  violence, 
or  by  the  iniquity  of  the  times,  Christians  should  be  pa- 
tient sufferers,  like  Christ,  and  his  apostles;  but  when  re- 
lief and  freedom  can  be  obtained,  it  is  meanness —  debase- 
ment, indeed,  to  couch  down  to  servitude.     When  the  times 
permit,  and  the  laws  allow  Christians  to  assert  their  civil 
rights,  they  should  not  refrain  from  doing  so,  through  mean- 
ness of  spirit.     Like  Paul,  they  may  tell  such  as  attempt  to 
burden  them.  (;  We  are  free  born."     As  to  religious  burdens, 
with  respect  to  the  conrcience,  they  cannot,  with  compla- 
cency,  be  borne  at  all.     The  consciencies  of  Christians, 
can  have  but  one  Master — they  cannot  yield  obedience  to 
another.    It  would  be  criminal  presumption,  to  admit  a  part- 
ner with  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  government  of  their  con- 
science.    Whether  they  are  things  which  God  has,  or  has 
not,  commanded,  no  man,  nor  any  body  of  men,  has  a  right 
to  impose  obedience  upon  us,  by  any  human  contrivance. 
If  they  are  commanded  by  God,  let  them  show  the  authori- 
ty, and  rest  there.     It  is  superrogatory  and  impious,  to  add 
to  Divine  authority.     Where  burdens  are  not  commanded,  it 
is  high  presumption  and  profanation,  in  any  human  authori- 
ty, to  attempt  to  lay  them,  as  the  subjects  are  only  accounta- 
ble here,  to  the  great  Judge  of  all.     And,  indeed,  upon  these 
principles  o    imposition,  e.very  authority  which   imposes, 
lays  a  snare  for  itself,  whenever  the  times  happen  to  change. 
Yes,  whenever  the  intolerant  irnposer,  is  bereft  of  power, 
these  other  hands  which  possess  it,  will  return  his  own 
measure  oi  imposition,  with  a  vengeance,  back  again  upon 
him.     And  here,  there  is  no  just  reason  for  him  to  complain, 
however  unjust  it  may  be  ;   for  this  imposure  is  only  doing 


46  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

as  he  had  done;  and  he,  in  his  turn,  is  now  receiving  the 
same  measure,  he  se  liberally  gave  to  others.     Whoever 
insists  Upon  his  having  a  Tight  to  oblige  others  to  receive 
his  religious  opinions  upon  the  pain  of  any  loss  whatever, 
where  the  hand  of  God  gives  no  direction,  should  be  ac- 
counted an  infidel  towards  God,  and  an  oppressor  of  his 
fellow  men.     Since  the  word  of  God,  was  given,  to  make 
the  man  of  God  perfect ;  and  is  profitable  for  all  things  in 
religion, — do  not  they  accuse  God  of  folly,  and  his  word 
of  imperfection,  who  make  fences  against  error,  which  they 
account  more  fit,  to  guard  against  heresy,  than  the  scrip- 
tures?    And  is  it  not  treating  men  like  asses,  to  tell  them, 
in  one  breath,  the  scriptures  are  profitable  for  all  things  in 
matters  of  religion;  and  then,  with  the  next  breath,  tell 
tfyem  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  receiving  dogmas  of 
human  ingenuity,  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  faith.     Is 
not  this  a  mere  Penelope's  web  —  a  doing  and  undoing  at 
the  same  time.     What  cause  is  there,  that  we  should  intro- 
duce any  other  system  of 'religion,  either  with,  or  beside, 
the  scriptures,  if  they  are  sufficient  to  make  men  perfect  in 
ill  things  pertaining  to  Godliness  ?     Do  men  believe  they 
can  express  themselves  more  intelligibly,  than  the  Holy 
Ghost  1     Or  that  they  can  commend  the  truth  with  more 
force  to  the  consciences  of  their  fellow  men  ?     The  most  that 
can  lawfully  be  done,  with  any  human  composition,  how- 
ever good  it  may  be,  is,  to  leave  it  to  man's  consideration  ; 
and  to  suffer  Ihem  to  examine  it,  in  the  light  of  the  word 
of  God;  but,  if  they  cannot  find  it  to  be  consistent  with 
that  word,   they  are  at  perfect  liberty,  to  reject  and  con- 
demn it.     We  hold  therefore,  that  all  civil,  as  well  as  reli- 
gious impositions  are  to  be  attributed,  at  first,  to  the  natu- 
ral slothfulness  and  ignorance  of  those  imposed  upon,  who 
did  not  take  the  pains  of  minding  their  own  private  buisi- 
ness,  and  natural  rights.     Mankind,  in  the  several  ages  of 
the  world,  have  conducted  much  like  those  men  who  give 
themselyes  up  to  licentiousness,  and  commit  the  care  of 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  47 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS.  AND  ASSES. 

their  estates,  to  the  management  of  stewards,  who  at  length 
become  masters,  and  make  their  masters,  their  servants. 
And  such  as  are  by  the  mass  of  the  community,  exalted  to 
preferment  and  power,  unless  they  be  truly  wise  and  virtu- 
ous—  unless  they  are  constantly  watched  and  restrained  by 
those  \vlio  have  given  them  their  exaltation,  will  be  left, 
under,  temptation,  to  act  the  part  of  Phaeton,  who,  when 
he  had  obtained  the  direction  of  his  father's  chariot,  set 
the  world  on  fire. 

One  cause  of  the  complaints  of  our  Puritanical  fathers, 
as  to  civil  and  religious  oppression,  was,  that  they  looked 
not  sufficiently  to  themselves;  but  thought,  when  they  had 
elected  civil  and  religious  governors,  they  might  all   fall 
asleep,  in  pleasure,  indolence,  and  inattention  to  their  pri- 
vate and  public  affairs.     We  have  no  doubt,  but  civil  and 
religious  governors  were  designed  for  ease'  to  the  public; 
and  when  they  perform  their  duty,  they  are  a  public  bene- 
fit and  blessing;  but  whenever  they  degenerate  in  their  ad- 
ministration   into    imposters,    loco   focos  and  tyrants;  as 
much  of  the  blame  rests   upon  the  community,  as  upon 
them ;  for   had  those  who  employed  them,  watched  over 
them  as  they  ought  to  have  done,  and  given  their  timely 
and  salutary  admonition,  they  might  have  prevented  their 
ruining,  both  their  own  souls,  and  the  best  interests  of  the 
public.     The  indolence  and  sloth  of  a  people,  as  also  a  de- 
lirious pursuit  of  visionary  theories,  in  either  literature, 
science,  philosophy,   politics  or  religion,  not  only  afford  a 
temptation  to  those  already  in  office,  to  turn  usurpers,  but 
actually  present  the  strongest  temptation,   to  all  reckless 
loco  foco "restless  master  spirits,  among  them,   to  make  an 
effort  to  seat  themselves  in  power. 

In  illustration  of  these  positions,  we  need  only  refer  to 
the  history  of  the  times  of  our  puritanic  fathers  in  Eng- 
land. At  that  period,  when  they  called  England  the  fre- 
est country  then  known  in  the  world,  as  their  commission- 
ers to  parliament,  were  elected  by  the  community,  and  were 


48  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

not  to  be  perpetual  dictators ;  we  should  suppose  it  might 
have  been  easy  to  make  them  rule  with  discretion,  by  put- 
ting them  in  mind  of  the  brevity  of  their  power;  but  the 
people  neglected  to  do  this,  and  made  no  proper  exertions 
to  obtain  a  redress  of.  their  grievances.  It  was  nothing  to 
the  purpose,  therefore,  for  the  oppressed  to  cry  out  against 
the  government,  and  the  prime  minister,  when  they  them- 
selves were  to  blame.  When  the  time  of  a  general  election 
came  on,  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  subjects  to  assert  their 
own  liberty.  When  those  men,  who  ruled  by  their  wealth, 
and  whose  business  it  was,  at  that  age,  to  corrupt  their  fel- 
low subjects,  by  bribery,  and  cheat  them  out  of  their  lib- 
arty  by  flattery  and  corruption,  came  to  ask  their  voices  in 
their  election,  they  should  have  despised  their  offers,  and 
said,  your  money  perish  with  you.  Could  it  be  supposed, 
that  such  men  would  take  care  of  their  interests,  who,  in 
religion,  sought  to  ruin  their  souls ;  as  they  began  with 
debauching  their  morals  with  drunkenness  and  perjury? 
Will  that  man  have  the  least  regard  for  your  civil  interest, 
and  property,  who  first  attempts  to  ruin  your  integrity  and 
virtue?  Will  that  man  ever  scruple  to  betray  the  liberties 
of  his  country,  who  teaches  perjury,  and  follows  bribery 
and  corruption  ?  It  is  at  best,  a  bad  beginning,  when  men 
mount  to  preferment  by.  bribery  and  false -swearing !  What 
better  was  a  country  —  a  city — or  a  borough  there,  at  the 
period  referred  to,  than  a  community  of  asses,  which  suf- 
fered themselves  to  be  so  cheated  out  of  their  privileges,  by 
the  dukes,  knights,  and  squires,  who  came  to  water  them  ? 
Yes,  when  any  of  those  who  offered  themselves  candidates 
to  counties  and  towns,  for  an  election  to  parliament,  came 
to  solicit  their  votes,  by  making  whole  towns,  as  they  did, 
swim  in  drunkenness,  what  other  opinion  could  those  gen- 
tlemen have  of  such  drunken  societies,  who,  for  a  few  days 
of  riot  and  gluttonry,  sell  their  liberties  —  than  that  they 
were  asses,  that  wanted  to  be  watered  ?  But,  we  may  ask, 
can  that  nation  be  accounted  free,  that  can  be  so  easily 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  40 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

duped  and  enslaved  by  drunkenness  and  bribery  of  any 
sort?  Liberty  is  but  a  name,  when  in  the  hand  of  creatures 
governed  by  such  mean  propensities.  When  men  are  slaves 
to  lusts,  or  slaves  to  parties,  they  are  never  free.  Men 
who  thus  show  that  they  will  sell  their  souls,  as  well  as 
bodies,  will  not  be  very  apt  to  value  their  country.  Where 
there  is  no  virtue,  there  can  be  no  liberty ;  it  is  only  LICEN- 
TIOUSNESS. But  yet,  Britain  had  a  high-sounding  name  for 
liberty,  at  the  time  referred  to!  "Pro  Pudet!"  At  that 
period,  it  was  the  opinion  of  as  wise  and  good  men  as  then 
lived,  that  Britain,  according  to  the  privileges  the  people 
enjoyed,  had  more  slaves  in  it,  than  there  were  in  Turkey! 
And  under  this  aggravation,  that  Britain  knew  how  to  pre- 
vent it ! 

What  Issachar,  indeed,  were  those  towns,  and  corpora- 
tions, who  gave  their  votes  to  members  of  parliament,  who 
neither  feared  God,  nor  loved  them ;  and  who,  by  the  meth- 
od used  in  obtaining  an  election,  deserved,  not  only  to  lose 
the  favor  and  esteem  of  good  men,  but  to  be  execrated, 
everywhere,  in  all  future  time  !  Whom  then  could  the  op- 
pressed blame  for  their  oppression,  but  themselves?  their  own 
hands,  made  the  fetters,  by  which  they  were  bound.  For, 
could  it  otherwise,  have  been  expected,  than  that  the  dis- 
turbers, debauchers,  and  defrauders  of  cities,  towns  and 
corporations,  would  not  be  fit  men  to  sit  in  the  great  coun- 
cil of  those  nations? 

During  the  drunken  revels  which  they  held  for  several 
weeks,  they  had  ruined  more  morals,  and  corrupted  more 
minds,  than  ever  the  best  service  performed  by  men,  could 
compensate  for,  to  their  country.  It  certainly  appears 
strange,  that  a  majority  of  the  people  of  England,  at  the 
time  referred  to,  should  act  as  though  they  supposed  men 
could  not  be  free  to  make  choice  of  one  to  represent  them 
in  the  high  council  of  the  nation,  until  they  had  been  made 
slaves  to  drunkenness  and  corruption!  Such  an  insult  of- 
fered to  their  virtue,  would  be  sufficient  to  make  all  wor- 
4 


50  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

thy  subjects  abhor  the  men  who  dared  to  offer  it !     What ! 
induce  you  to  give  up  your  reason,  and  consciousness  of 
integrity,  and  then  solicit  your  vote?     Those  towns,  coun- 
ties, and  corporations,  richly  deserved  a  burden  of  heavy 
taxes  upon  their  window  lights,  and  other  property,  who 
thus  gave  up  the  light  of  their  understanding  to  such  venal 
'Corruption.     Those  who  expended  so  much  money  to  ob- 
tain their  election,  made  their  dupes  pay  well  for  it,  by 
joining  a  venal  ministry,  in  taxing  them  for  the  benefit  of 
a  rich  preferment.      Had .  the  servile  members  of  cities, 
towns,  and  counties,  consulted  their  own  happiness  and 
interest,  as  truly  as  they  sometimes  made  a  noise  about 
them,  they  might  have  prevented  many  of  the  heavy  im- 
positions under  which  they  labored.      Had  they  made  it 
their  business  to  chose  worthy  and  good  men,  to  represent 
them  in  parliament,   with  an  assurance  that  they  would 
support  them  while  they  made  it  their  study  to  maintain 
their  liberties;  but  would  despise  them,  the  moment  they 
betrayed  the  interests  of  their  constituents,  and  the  welfare 
of  their  country  ;  for  place,  or  pension,  or  preferment;  they 
might  have  thereby  laid  restraint  upon  the  venal  disposi- 
tion of  such  as  made  a  trade  of  selling  their  country  for 
such  preferments,  under  an  aspiring  and  corrupt  ministry. 
The  solemn  assurance  that  they  should  never  again  be 
elected,  would  have  been  a  check  upon  them,  which  would 
have  prevented  them  from  joining  their  atrocious  ministry, 
in  hunting  and  "fleecing  the  people,  for  preferments.     But 
what  have  any  people,  reason  to  expect,  from  such  candi- 
dates, who  begin  to  serve  them  by  debauchery  and  corrup- 
tion, but  that  their  object  is  to  sell  their  privileges  to  the 
highest  bidder,  when  they  have  brought  them  to  market  ? 
Such  characters  well  know  how  to  pacify  those  whom  they 
thus  water  and  sell;  only  return  and  make  their  towns  and 
cities  revel  in  drunkenness  again,  for  a  few  weeks,  and  they 
atone  for  all  their  atrocious  perfidies ;  they  can  then  return 
to  their  homes  and  employments,  with  the  character  of  THE 


"THINGS   NEW    AND   OLD,"  51 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

BEST  MEN  IN  THE  WORLD  !  After  this,  it  requires  no  more 
from  them,  than  that  they  occasionally  water  their  asses, 
to  keep  them  good  and  true  beasts  of  burden,  ready  to 
stoop  down,  to  take  on  their  burdens  !  If  some  are  more 
obstinate  than  the  rest,  and  are  not  satisfied  with  an  ordi- 
nary quantity  of  good  liquor ;  they  know  how  to  manage 
such  asses ;  they  silence  their  noise,  with  some  gift  which 
is  suited  to  their  disposition.  Issachar's  character,  was  in- 
deed, applicable  to  the  people  of  Britain  at  the  time  refer- 
red to  —  they  were  strong  asses;  loved  drunkenness,  hi 
body  and  soul,  and  spirit,  and  kneeled  to  take  on  their  bur- 
dens. 

Had  not  the  larger  portion  of  the  people  of  those  king- 
doms, been  of  Issachar's  character,  they  would  not  have 
borne  taxes  so  unreasonable.  Surely  there  are  many  things 
fitter  objects  of  taxation  than  the  necessaries  of  life.  The 
poorest  man  that  lives,  cannot  subsist  without  meat  and 
drink,  shoes,  clothes,  and  light;  yet,  there,  they  had  to  pay 
heavy  duties,  for  the  sun  that  shined  in  through  their  win- 
dow, for  the  beer  they  drank,  for  the  candles  they  used, 
and  for  the  very  shoes  on  their  feet !  Truly,  only  those 
who  opposed  such  burdens,  were  the  friends  of  liberty. 
Those,  therefore,  when  the  general  election  came  on,  who 
would  choose  no  man  for  a  member  of  parliament,  who 
would  not  give  security  that  he  would  stand  up  for  a  repeal 
of  the  laws,  by  which  they  were  oppressed,  acted  the  part 
of  wisdom ;  and  hence,  as  long  as  a  majority  acted  on  the 
other  side,  it  was  their  own  fault,  to  which  their  burdens 
were  to  have  been  attributed.  They,  therefore,  stood  re- 
corded for  asses  ;  and  ought  to  be  so  recorded  through  all 
generations. 

It  would  have  been  no  disloyalty  to  their  king,  nor  any 
way  injurious  t6  the  laws  of  their  country,  had  they  given 
imperative  instructions  to  those  they  chose  for  members  of 
parliament.  That  course  would  have  been  much  more 
noble  than  taking  bribes  —  or  than  that  of  rioting  for  days 


52  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

in  gluttony  and  drunkenness.  They  should  have  taught 
their  loco  foco  deluders,  that  members  of  parliament  were 
their  servants,  and  the  servants  of  their  country ;  and  it 
was  therefore  but  reasonable,  they  should  be  held  accoun- 
table for  their  conduct.  Yes,  they  should  have  given  those 
men  their  instructions;  and  required  them  to  abide  by  them, 
at  the  peril  of  their  lives.  When  any  duke,  or  lord,  knight. 
or  squire,  came  to  solicit  their  votes  by  treats,  and  enter- 
tainments, they  should  have  put  them  in  mind  of  what 
they  were  about,  and  of  what  they  ought  to  be.  Should 
have  gravely  and  corrodingly  told  them  that  none  who 
make  attempts  upon  the  virtue  and  integrity  of  their  fellow 
men,  can  ever  be  expected  to  be  faithful,  to  their  civil  and 
religious  interests;  and  that  such  ought  to  be  shunned  as 
the  pestilence; — that  no  worse  plague  can  ever  enter  a 
country,  than  such  loco  foco  intruders,  as  seek  to  stain  the 
purity  and  integrity  of  its  inhabitants. 

How  strange  soever,  it  might  seem,  yet  whole  towns, 
and  corporations,  often  flocked  about  a  man,  merely  to  ob- 
tain some  private  emolument  for  individuals,  at  the  mani- 
fest jeopardizing  of  the  public  welfare;  each  concealing 
his  real  intention,  that  he  might  serve  or  please  himself  by 
some  vile  gratification.  The  same  person,  who  thus  en- 
deavored to  corrupt  them,  and  was  at  great  expense  to  do 
it,  invariably  afterwards  made  them  pay,  most  dearly  for  it, 
by  imposing  a  heavy  tax,  and  thus  brought  back  the  mon- 
ey he  had  expended,  with  most  enormous  interest ;  thus,  in 
fact,  all  the  towns,  and  counties  in  Britain,  during  several 
sessions  of  the  parliament,  bore  this  ungodly  expense  of 
their  elections.  By  taxes  on  the  two  articles,  lights,  beer 
or  ale,  for  fourteen  years  in  succession,  it  was  made  to  ap- 
pear that  they  received  for  their  burdens,  the  benefit  of  the 
atmosphere  as  a  medium  for  the  smoke  of  their  chimneys. 
Were  such  dissenters,  from  the  establishment  for  conscience 
sake,  free,  when  they  were  obliged  also  to  perform  the  office 
of  church  wardens,  in  the  establishment,  which  they  ab- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  53 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

horred  ?  Now  it  is  no  light  matter,  at  any  time  or  place, 
for  men  to  be  under  obligations  to  serve  their  country,  and 
who  yet  must  give  up  their  conscience,  or  refuse  the  call. 
And  when  this  is  the  case,  as  it  was  in  Britain,  it  was  the 
duty  of  all,  in  such  circumstances,  to  have  united  in  such 
a  call  for  liberty  of  conscience  as  would  have  immediately 
reached  the  throne.  Then,  if  they  could  not  obtain  re- 
dress, they  would  at  least  have  had  the  satisfaction  to  re- 
flect that  they  had  not  been  duped,  nor  borne  their  burdens 
like  asses.  Let  every  reader,  ponder  upon  these  things,  and 
make  the  application  for  which  they  are  designed,  in  these 
"loco  foco  times."  And  may  our  ever  blessed  Father  in 
heaven,  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
speedily  interpose,  and  reform  and  preserve  our  beloved 
church  and  country,  from  the  disgrace  and  ruin  with  which 
they  are  now  threatened.  Amen. 


SEKMON  III. 


NUMBERS  XXII,  21—30. 

AND  BALAAM  ROSE  UP  IN  THE  MORNING,  AND  SADDLED  HIS  ASS, 
AND  WENT  WITH  THE  PRINCES  OF  MoAB.  AND  THE  ASS  SAID 
UNTO  BALAAM,  "  AM  NOT  I  THINE  ASS,  UPON  WHICH  THOU 

HAST    RIDDEN,    EVER    SINCE   I    WAS    THINE  ? " 

READER,  thou  knowest  there  are  several  methods  of  preach- 
ing, in  practice,  among  the  diverse  professors  of  that  gift ; 
but  the  principal  ones  seem  to  be  only  these  two  :  to  make 
some  text  of  scripture,  either  the  foundation  or  occasion 
of  their  discourse.  It  answers  much  the  same  purpose, 
whether  a  discourse  be  directly  from  the  text,  or  only  sug- 
gested by  it.  I  imagine  the  readers  of  this  discourse,  will 
easily  percieve  which  of  these  rules  has  been  adopted  by 
the  preacher.  Balaam  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and  saddled 
his  ass.  It  is  clear  to  us,  that  there  must  always  be  some 
matter  of  importance,  to  induce  a  man  of  Balaam's  charac- 
ter, to  be  up  so  early ;  and,  no  doubt,  some  pious  purpose, 
is  to  be  accomplished,  when  a  prophet  rises  so  soon  in  the 
morning.  But  we  are  immediately  surprised  to  hear,  that 
the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against  the  prophet ! 
But  the  reason  is  given  —  Balaam  loved  the  wages  of  un- 
righteousness ;  and  rose,  to  obtain  such  wages,  by  cursing 
that  people,  whom  the  Lord  had  blessed  ! 

And,  indeed,  the  whole  creation  groaneth,  and  is  in 
bondage,  until  now;  even  the  most  harmless  of  animals, 
is  brought  into  bondage,  by  the  iniquities  of  man.  Men  of 
deep  designs,  "and  of  rare  policy,  will  make  use  of  any  in- 


56  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

strument,  to  accomplish  their  ends.  And  when  a  man  is 
riding  to  the  devil,  an  ass  will  serve  that  purpose,  as  well 
as  a  horse.  Our  covetous  loco  foco  prophet  had  now  a  great 
object  in  his  eye  ;  the  king  of  Moab  had  promised  to  exalt 
him  to  riches  and  honor,  if  he  would  curse  the  children  of 
Israel;  and,  therefore,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  a  man  of  Ba- 
laam's disposition,  was  up  early  in  the  morning,  to  look  after 
these  things.  It  was  to  serve  a  king,  too  ; — loco  foco  proph- 
ets, and  leading  characters,  in  all  nations,  have  been  ar- 
dently disposed  to  serve  the  great:  I  have  read  of  bishops 
who  have  employed  themselves  the  same  way ;  but  how 
should  he  curse,  whom  God  had  blessed  ?  What  did  the  king 
of  Moab,  mean,  by  asking  Balaam  to  curse  Israel?  Indeed, 
superstition  has  always  been  early  in  the  world.  Such  as 
have  had  no  just  notions  of  a  true  God,  have  yet  shown  that 
they  possessed  some  notions  of  a  supreme  power,  either  to 
bless,  or  to  curse,  at  their  pleasure.  Balaam  seems  to  have 
been  one  of  the  eastern  Magi ;  and  one  of  those  who  pre- 
tended to  be  hand  and  glove,  with  some  powerful  divinity, 
whose  aid  he  could  call  in  at  his  pleasure,  to  bless  or  curse 
whom  he  had  a  mind.  It  is  undoubtedly  correct,  that  all  this 
was  a  corruption  and  perversion  of  the  religion  of  the  true 
God,  which  was  here  used,  to  carry  out  the  pious  purposes  of 
false  prophets,  and  the  politics  of  loco  foco  princes.  The 
greatest  part  of  the  leading  men,  and  princes  of  this  world, 
have  meant  no  more,  by  religion,  than  to  make  it  an  engine 
of  state  policy,  or  a  tool  of  secular  interest.  Men  of  any 
degree  of  sagacity,  can  easily  see  that  the  common  people 
will  not  always  be  subject  to  their  authority,  unless  they 
be  brought  under  it,  by  means  of  some  temporal  advan- 
tage, or  the  influence  of  religion ;  and  as  those  who  aspire 
after  power,  are  seldom  disposed  to  part  with  many  worldly 
emoluments,  they  endeavor  to  secure  the  subjection  of  the 
vulgar,  with  what  costs  them  nothing,  and  what  they  them- 

"Hence  the  grouping  of  our  patron  loco  foco  Prophets,  in  the  frontispiece^ 
with  their  most  excellent  Princes  will  be  considered  in  good  keeping, — but 
we  reserve  our  notes  for  future  editions. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  57 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

selves  set  no  value  upon.  Severe  as  this  reflection  may 
seem,  upon  human  legislators,  experience  has,  for  a'long 
time,  confirmed  it;  and,  it  is  evident,  from  observation,  that 
the  greatest  part  of  those  who  have  desired  to  bring  over 
religion  to  their  side,  have  made  it  the  instrument  of  the 
gratification  of  their  pride  and  ambition.  And,  indeed,  it  is 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  govern  mankind  without  some 
form  of  religion ;  for  it  may  be  found  by  observation,  that 
where  there  is  least  religion,  or  where  it  is  most  perverted, 
there  is  generally  the  greatest  barbarity  among  the  inhab- 
itants, in  any  country.  Where  the  knowledge  of  the  Deity 
is  well  nigh  obliterated  from  the  minds  of  a  people,  they 
differ  but  little  from  other  animals  ;  they  are  rude,  savage, 
and  untractable,  until  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  reli- 
ligion.  It  ought  to  be  observed  here,  that  although  princes 
have  thus  made  religion  an  engine  of  government,  by  which 
to  manage  their  subjects ;  yet,  they  could  never  so  far  pre- 
vail over  priests  and  prophets,  as  to  make  them  subserve 
the  ends  of  their  policy,  without  allowing  them  to  go  snacks 
with  them,  in  the  profits  resulting  from  it.  It  appears,  in- 
deed, from  a  consideration  of  the  influence  of  religion  upon 
mankind,  that  it  is  necessary  to  their  very  constitution,  in 
a  civilized  capacity;  for  without  it,  they  in  fact  differ  but 
little  from  brutes  ;  even  the  best  uninspired  civil  system  of 
policy,  cannot  subsist  without  it ;  for  where  religion  is  once 
entirely  removed,  there  is  neither  law  nor  policy.  The 
Christian  religion  softens  the  mind,  and  makes  it  suscep- 
tible of  impressions,  to  which  men  without  it,  are  utter 
strangers.  Without  it,  we  have  no  proper  springs  of  action, 
to  what  is  truly  virtuous  and  noble.  Some  men  have  been 
possessed  of  a  sort  of  animal  docility,  by  an  appeal  to  which, 
they  could  be  more  easily  kept  in  order,  than  others;  but 
without  religion,  the  best,  even  of  them,  have  been  but  the 
milder  sort  of  savages. 

It  is  a  pity,  however,  that  it  should  be  made  subservient 
to  the  basest  ends  and  purposes,  as  it  ofteh  has  been.     It  i& 


58  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

designed  as  the  chief  end  of  our  nature,  and,  therefore,  it 
should  be  the  chief  aim  of  all  our  conduct.  All  other 
things,  we,  as  individuals,  and  a,s  communities,  should  at- 
tempt to  render  subservient  to /this ;  and  it  is  a  sign  of  un- 
sound ness  in  the  human  economy,  when  the  mistress  is 
made  a  dupe  to  her  handmaids.  And  this  is  a  strong  ar- 
gument in  favor  of  religion,  that  generally,  all  men,  in  the 
time  of  distress,  make  her  their  Mernier  resort.  And  what 
kings  find  themselves  unable  to  do  by  force  of  arms,  they 
have  sometimes  imagined  might  be  done  by  the  Deity  with- 
out them.  Now  this  is  a  fair,  though  forced  acknowledge- 
ment of  human  impotency,  and  of  the  providence  and  in- 
dependence of  God. 

Whatever  may  have  been  said  by  travellers,  our  re- 
searches, have  produced  the  conviction,  that  there  is,  and 
has  been,  no  people  on  earth,  who  have  not  worshipped  a 
Deity,  in  their  estimation,  either  good  or  bad.  The  human 
mind,  clearly  appears  to  have  been  formed  for  religion ;  and 
notwithstanding  the  natural  evil  bias,  and  habit  and  custom 
in  wickedness,  yet  the  very  errors,  and  excesses  of  man- 
kind, show  that  their  minds  would  exercise  themselves  very 
differently,  were  they  clear  from  the  natural  and  habitual 
fetters,  with  which  they  are  bound.. 

Were  there  as  many  influences  to  operate  u'pon  us,  and 
as  many  to  instruct  us,  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  as 
there  are  to  decoy  us  into  the  paths  of  error  and  lies,  we 
should,  beyond  a  doubt,  soon  find  these  matters  very  differ- 
ent from  what  they  now  are.  At  such  times  as  civil  and 
religious  rulers,  are  engaged  in  a  united  interest,  to  seduce 
mankind;  if  the  Almighty  did  not  show  himself,  in  one 
way  or  another,  at  the  head  of  the  administration,  in  spite 
of  them,  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  the  end  would  be.  It 
is  certainly  observable,  that  all  men,  rich  and  poor,  when 
they  are  in  distress,  and  possess  their  reason,  endeavor  to 
bring  over  the  Deity  to  their  interest;  yet  often  the  means 
they  then  use  to  accomplish  the  end,  can  be  reckoned  only 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  59 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

among  the  number  of  their  provocations.  No  man  can 
justify  himself  in  asking  from  God,  what  would  ruin  an- 
other; for  when  our  heavenly  Benefactor  bestows  a  favor 
upon  one.  it  does  not  in  the  least  incapacitate  him  to  do  the 
same  to  another,  if  he  stands  in  need  of  it.  Curses,  from 
human  lips,  are,  of  all  things,  the  most  disagreeable  to  a 
good  and  merciful  God.  What,  Oh  !  Balak,  didst  thou 
mean  ?  to  send  for  a  prophet,  to  curse  a  people,  who,  as  yet, 
had  not  injured  thee  1  God  of  mercy !  what  would  be- 
come of  thy  people,  Israel,  had  the  king  of  Moab  had  pow- 
er ?  They  would  then  have  been  destroyed  in  a  moment. 
It  is  indeed,  well  for  the  world,  that  God,  after  all,  is  the 
supreme  Governor  of  it;  for  his  laws  are  love,  and  his  gov- 
ernment, mercy.  The  king  of  Moab,  must  have  been  very 
ignorant  of  the  character  of  God,  who  rules  the  universe, 
to  imagine  that  he  had  not  an  equally  good  will  to  the  same 
works  of  his  hands.  Perhaps  he  had  been  tinctured  with 
the  doctrine  that  there  is  both  a  good  and  evil  genius — one 
that  could  curse,  and  another  that  could  bless.  At  this 
time,  he  wanted  the  aid  of  the  evil  genius,  to  distribute 
maledictions  among  a  people  of  whom  he  was  afraid ;  fear 
and  hatred,  are  very  closely  allied.  Quisquis  timet  quam- 
quam  est  intactus  et  odlt. 

When  all  things  move  on  pleasantly,  with  wicked  men, 
they  entirely  neglect,  and  all  but  forget,  their  God ;  but 
when  they  become  sensible  of  their  own  incapacity  to  bear 
their  trials  and  distresses,  they  would  then  selfishly  and 
willingly,  throw  themselves  upon  the  Almighty.  This  is 
the  invariable  result  of  fear,  until  they  have  sincerely  re- 
pented of  their  sins.  And  it  requires  no  proof,  when  we 
state,  that  there  always  have  been,  and  still  are,  many 
men  in  the  world,  who  entertain  the  same  opinion  of  God, 
that  they  have  of  the  devil ;  that  he  is  always  disposed  to 
do  ill  to  such  as  are  his  enemies.  Their  notions  of  good 
and  evil,  are  much  alike;  and,  therefore,  their  God  and 
their  devil,  must  of  course,  have  the  same  character.  The 


60  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

notions  of  good  with  such  men,  are,  that  it  is  fit  and  proper 
for  them  to  do  what  they  please,  without  desert  of  punish- 
ment; and  have  a  natural  right  to  follow  the  bent  of  their 
own  inclinations,  with  impunity ;  and  they  mean  no  more 
by  evil,  than  punishment  for  their  offences. 

It  is  goodness,  to  suffer  them  to  continue  as  they  are; 
and  evil  to  interrupt  them  in  the  gratification  of  their  ap- 
petites and  passions.  With  such,  virtue  is  not  good ; 
neither  is  vice,  evil ;  but  punishment  is  evil,  and  impurity, 
good.  The  king  of  Moab,  and  his  prophet  Balaam,  have 
now  the  character  of  some  Demon,  in  their  eye.  He  must 
curse  Israel,  or  he  does  nothing.  Just  so  it  is,  the  maligni- 
ty of  some  men's  temper,  will  not  rest  satisfied  but  with 
the  destruction  of  their  fellow  beings. 

Had  thy  children,  Balak,  all  died  in  that  battle  where 
thy  friend  Balaam  fell,  the  world  would  have  had  no  cause 
to  lament  the  loss.  But  the  case  is  otherwise.  Thy  off- 
spring, like  Pharaoh's  locusts,  overspread  all  the  kingdoms 
and  countries  of  the  world.  From  thee,  and  thy  prophet 
Balaam,  statesmen  have  learned  to  curse  their  enemies ; 
and  to  ask  the  aid  of  prophets,  to  support  their  cause. 
From  Balaam,  establishments,  called  churches,  have  taken 
their  hint,  to  devote  all,  who  dissent  from  their  creed,  and 
refuse  to  support  the  church,  to  eternal  destruction.  How 
often  has  the  name  of  the  Diety  been  profaned  by  malevo- 
lent invocations,  to  curse  thousands,  who  have  been  dear 
in  his  sight.  The  leaders  in  all  state  and  church  policy, 
have  ever  acted  upon  the  same  principle.  What  they  could 
not  so  easily  effect  by  reason,  and  strength  of  argument, 
has  often  been  obtained  by  curses,  and  church  anathemas. 

It  is  now,  a  long  time  since  statesmen  found  the  necessity 
of  the  assistance  of  some  Deity ;  and  churchmen,  and  even 
prophets  have  pretended  influence  sufficient,  at  any  time, 
to  obtain  it  for  themselves  and  others ;  yet  those  statesmen, 
have  often  been  disappointed,  and  those  prophets,  have  been 
found  to  be  liars.  The  Lord  of  this  universe,  has  more 


-'T  KINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  61 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

wisdom,  and  mercy,  and  goodness,  than  to  hear  the  prayers, 
of  either  civil  or  religious  loco  foco  politicians,  who  only 
call  in  his  assistance  to  serve  the  purposes  of  their  pride 
and  ungodly  ambition.  Worldly  interest,  has  ever  been 
the  principle  bond  of  alliance,  between  churchmen  and 
statesmen;  and  to  maintain  and  advance  this  interest,  they 
have  often  shamefully  abused  the  characters  of  both  God 
and  the  Devil.  We  shall  find  an  illustration  of  this  posi- 
tion, if  we  refer  to  the  history  of  two  parties,  near  Dun- 
bar,  at  the  time  of  the  usurpation  in  Britain ;  both  parties, 
were  ready  to  shed  each  others  blood,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord;  and  both  were  confidently  assured  of  success,  by 
their  prophets,  who  consulted  their  oracles.  Could  those 
enthusiasts  have  consulted  the  God  of  heaven,  think  you, 
and  received,  as  they  affirmed,  from  him,  assurances  of 
success?  If  so,  they  must  either  have  most  egregiously 
mistaken  his  meaning,  or  He  deceived  some  of  them.  I 
am  inclined  to  think  the  prophets  were  like  Balaam,  and 
the  rulers  like  Balak,  who  went  out  to  curse  their  enemies; 
but  God  turned  it  into  a  blessing;  not  however,  -for  the 
deserts  of  those  who  prospered,  but  for  the  gross  impu- 
dence and  blasphemy,  of  those  who  suffered. 

There  seems  to  be  a  particular  reason  why  wicked  men, 
in  the  time  of  difficulties,  seek  the  assistance  of  some  in- 
visible Deity ;  they  wish  not  to  have  it  thought  they  de- 
pend upon,  or  are  directed  by  any  visible  agent.  All  men, 
in  the  time  of  prosperity,  affect  a  sort  of  independence,  and 
in  fact,  the  ungodly,  would  be  Deities  if  they  could ;  and 
therefore,  when  distress  comes  upon  them,  they  are  stimu- 
lated by  pride,  not  to  acknowledge  their  dependence  upon 
such  as  they  have  always  accounted  their  inferiors.  They 
betake  themselves,  therefore,  to  some  invisible  Divinity, 
which  their  consciences  tell  them  exists,  somewhere;  but 
which,  they  have  neglected  to  acknowledge  till  distress 
drove  them  to  do  it.  They  never  give  up  their  notions  of 
independence,  until  they  can  no  longer  support  them,  with 


62  "THINGS   NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

any  credit.  This  seems  to  be  the  most  honorable  way  of 
retreating,  they  can  think  of,  at  such  times  to  acknowledge 
a  power,  which  they  would  have  the  rest  of  mankind  sup- 
pose they  had  more  interest  in  than  the  world  around  them, 
possess. 

And  thus  it  is,  that  wicked  men,  exchange  atheism  for 
hypocrisy ;  when  they  find  themselves  under  some  necessi- 
ty, to  acknowledge  a  Deity,  they  at  the  same  time,  incline 
to  monopolize  his  favor ;  pretending  that  they  are  his  great- 
est intimates;  When,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  clear  to  all  wise 
observers,  that  they  make  use  of  all  these  pretences,  rather 
to  serve  their  own  ends  and  purposes,  than  sincerely  to  be- 
have, as  the  friends  of  God. 

When  men  are  thus  obliged,  to  renounce  any  degree  of 
their  own  independence,  they  wish  to  do  it  with  as  much 
regard  to  their  notions  of  dignity,  as  possible;  and  this  is 
the  reason  why  they  are  disposed  to  profess  dependence 
upon  the  Almighty,  that  they  may  make  others  believe, 
that  He  and  they,  are  very  familiar.  Though  they  dare 
not  generally,  consider  themselves  his  superior,  yet  that 
they  would  be  as  nearly  equal  to  Him,  as  they  possibly 
can.  Hence  it  is,  that  false  prophets,  and  loco  foco  enthu- 
siasts, of  all  sorts,  have  so  trumpeted,  what  influence  they 
had  with  their  Divinities;  that  honest  well  meaning  com- 
mon people,  have  often  concluded,  that  these  deluded  loco 
focos  dare  not  do  any  thing  without  the  good  leave  of  their 
Divinities ;  and  that  these  Divinities  would  refuse  nothing 
which  they  were  inclined  to  ask.  Such  was  the  opinion, 
Balak,  seems  to  have  had  of  the  false  prophet,  Balaam ; 
for  he  says,  whom  thou  blessest,  is  blessed ;  and  whom  thou 
cursest,  is  cursed. 

This  prophet,  you  know,  affected  divinity  as  long  as  he 
oould;  till  the  Almighty  made  him  sensible  that  all  his 
divinations  were  under  His  control;  and  then  he  was 
obliged  to  confess,  that  he  could  do  nothing  beyond  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord.  Mankind  in  general,  make  as 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  63 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

(real  a  secret,  of  their  dependence  upon  God,  as  they  pos- 
sibly can;  and  in  the  most  important  points  of  their  de- 
pendence, pretend  that  none  can  know  it,  but  God  and 
themselves.  This  is  probably  the  reason  why  some  de- 
luded, devout  persons,  seem  to  consider  intercourse  with 
God,  not  to  be  a  common  privilege ;  but  peculiarly  designed 
for  those  only,  who  are  like  themselves.  If  men  were  en- 
tirely convinced,  and  satisfied,  in  their  own  minds,  that  they 
truly  depended  upon  God,  they  would  make  no  secret  of  it, 
but  humbly  confess  it,  on  every  proper  occasion;  but  whilst 
they  still  wrap  it  up  in  mysticism,  and  conceal  it  under  some 
form  of  Miller-like  divination;  this  still  shows  that  they 
are  not  satisfied,  as  they  pretend  to  be.  It  seems  to  be  a 
great  deal  more  the  disposition  of  some  men,  to  be  divini- 
ties, than  to  seek  after  intercourse  with  God,  in  his  appoint- 
ed way.  The  heathens  had  a  ruling  propensity,  of  this 
sort — they  publicly  affected  divine  honors :  and  longed  to 
be  accounted  Deities;  yet,  you  know,  this  was  seldom  con- 
ferred upon  them,  until  after  they  were  dead; — and  the 
reason  why,  it  was  not,  seems  to  have  been,  that  there  were 
so  many  affecting  the  same  thing,  that  they  could  not  en- 
dure a  divinity,  they  saw,  with  their  eyes,  in  their  own  na- 
ture, because  it  so  far  destroyed  every  man's  private  opinion 
of  independence. 

It  will  always  be  found,  upon  strict  inquiry  into  the  hu- 
man heart,  that  the  same  spirit,  that  excited  our  first  par- 
ents, to  seek  to  be  as  Gods,  knowing  good  and  evil ;  leads 
all  their  posterity,  until  they  have  been  regenerated  by  the 
operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  truth  of  the  Gospel, 
to  affect  the  same  thing.  As  the  mind  was  thus,  at  the  on- 
set, perverted,  none  of  its  descendants  can,  or  will,  of  their 
own  accord,  seek  to  be  virtuous.  Unless  they  are  operated 
upon,  by  arguments,  and  influences  more  powerful,  than 
their  biases  and  prejudices,  they  will  continue  in  the  same 
condition,  into  which,  they  were  originally  seduced. 

But,  we  have  observed,  that  the  human  mind,  for  some 


64  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

reason  or  other,  is  formed  for  religion.  This  is  evident, 
upon  certain  occasions  —  and  it  shows,  that  whatever  lia- 
bility or  necessity  there  is  in  it  for  seduction,  its  original 
frame  was  quite  the  reverse.  The  infidelity  of  our  mind, 
does  not  arise  from  its  original  nature,  but  from  an  evil 
seed,  that  was  sown  by  an  enemy,  which  when  it  grows 
up,  or  exercises  its  influence  upon  the  springs  of  action,  it 
invariably  causes  the  descendants  of  Adam,  in  all  subse- 
quent ages  to  act  unnaturally.  There  is  nothing  more  un- 
natural than  Atheism  and  infidelity  ;  for  both  the  works, 
und  the  word  of  God,  do  teach  us,  that  dependence,  upon 
ihe  Almighty,  is  the  language  of  nature.  Until  the  mind, 
therefore  has  been  rightly  informed,  and  corrected,  it  is  in- 
capable of  exercising  itself  correctly  with  respect  to  moral 
principles;  and  without  the  revelation  of  God,  it  will  fall 
into  either  superstition,  or  enthusiasm ;  if  not  infidelity, — 
but  this  shows  the  perversion  of  nature;  as  such  was  not 
the  original  design  of  the  rnind.  When  men,  therefore,  so 
far  depart  from  the  first  principles  of  nature,  as  to  affect 
independency  of  their  Creator,  the,  reason  is,  they  are  cor- 
rupted and  perverted.  Danger  or  affliction,  will  produce 
(eelings  which  soon  stagger  their  notions  of  self-depend- 
ence; but  unless  they  are  set  right,  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
through  the  Gospel;  they  will  float  on  to  superstition, 
enthusiasm  or  infidelity.  The  reason  why  the  heathen  fell 
so  deeply  into  superstition,  was,  they  had  no  tutor  to  cul- 
tivate and  reform  their  minds,  from  their  natural  perversity 
and  darkness,  and  that  could  have  been  effectual  in  the 
'ground  work,  of  discovering  to  them  the  errors  of  their 
hearts. 

At  the  same  time,  in  which  men  are  attempting  to  se- 
duce others,  and  thus  aiding  in  the  support  of  superstition, 
they  generally  become,  though  insensibly,  as  badly  distem- 
pered as  their  dupes.  Balak,  who  attempted  to  impose 
upon  the  people  of  Moab,  the  shameful  superstition  of  those 
times,  as  a  tool  of  state  policies,  and  an  engine  of  the  gov- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  65 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

ernment,  became  himself  affected  with  the  same  delusion. 
And  he  applies  to  Balaam  for  his  aid  in  the  time  of  his  dis- 
tress. This  Balaam,  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  great 
repute  amongst  the  deluded  and  superstitious  people  in 
those  days.  I  have  before  observed,  that  most  likely,  he 
was  one  of  the  eastern  Magi,  — one  who  pretends  intimacy 
with  some  Divinity;  who  was  supposed  to  need  only  a  few 
compliments  paid  him,  to  induce  him  to  work  wonder- 
fully for  his  friends.  One  might  think,  after  all,  that  the 
eastern  kings  had  not  been  very  intimate  with  their  Deities, 
when  they  had  so  far  to  send  for  a  mediator;  but  perhaps 
these  kings  had  other  business  to  regard,  than  religion,  ex- 
cept on  special  occasions;  and  were  therefore  not  so  well 
acquainted  with  the  proper  manner  of  addressing  their 
Deities.  Be  this  as  it  may,  or  might  have  been,  Balak 
sent  messengers  to  Balaam,  to  come  to  him  to  curse  a  peo- 
ple, whom  he  feared.  It  is  supposed,  the  curse  was  some 
form  of  incantation,  which  was  usual  in  those  times ;  and 
which  ignorant  and  deluded  people,  in  those  regions,  be- 
lieved, was  powerful  to  hurt  their  enemies ;  but  which  yet, 
might  have  been  innocent  enough,  in  any  person  whatever, 
except  those  who  used  it. 

The  king  of  Moab,  had  evidently,  some  confidence  in  Ba- 
laam's abilities;  and  also  knew  what  would  be  best  adapted 
to  excite  him  to  use  them ;  he  promises  him  honors,  and 
very  liberal  rewards.  If  the  king  of  Moab  was  not  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  disposition  of  the  Deity,  he  really  seems 
to  have  known  mankind,  tolerably  well,  —  at  any  rate,  he 
seems  to  have  known  Balaam's  leading  principle.  Perhaps 
the  prophet's  character  was  well  known,  as  a  man  that 
never  chose  to  work  for  nothing:  and  Balak  might  have 
learned  this  from  report.  The  prophet  seemed  well  dis- 
posed, at  first,  to  serve  the  king  of  Moab,  for  the  considera- 
tions held  out  to  him ;  still  he  had  one  objection  in  his  way; 
which  though  he  would,  yet,  he  could  not  get  over.  Now, 
we  think,  here,  that  he  had  found  by  experience,  that  there 
5 


66  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

was  one  Supreme  Agent,  who  upon  occasions,  had  inter- 
rupted the  ceremonies  of  his  divinations.  Him,  he  wished 
first  to  consult,  lest  upon  trial,  he  should  be  disgraced  in 
the  middle  of  his  enterprise.  He  goes  first  to  consult  the 
Lord. 

When  men  go  to  ask  the  mind  of  the  Almighty,  with 
their  hearts  fully  bent  upon  their  own  purposes,  it  is  no 
great  cause  of  wonder,  if  they  receive  an  answer  not  quite 
satisfactory  to  their  inclinations.  God,  who  knows  all 
things,  well  knew,  with  what  intention  his  suppliant  at  this 
time,  addressed  him ;  that  it  was  not  with  a  full  resolution 
to  submit  to  his  will ;  but  with  a  design  that,  at  all  events, 
God  would  favor  his  desire.  He  was  forbidden  to  go  with 
Balak's  messengers,  which  was  not  a  pleasing  response 
to  a  man  who  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness.  Balak 
behaved  towards  the  prophet  as  the  prophet  did  towards 
his  Maker.  He  tried  him  again ;  the  king  of  Moab  had  in- 
deed, better  reason  to  urge  Balaam,  than  the  prophet  had, 
to  be  instant  with  the  Almighty.  This  covetous  prophet 
had  showed  his  good  inclination  to  serve  him ;  but  was 
told  he  could  not,  —  and  what  did  Balak  know  but  the  Deity 
might  change  his  mind,  and  by  importunity,  be  made  to 
yield  to  Balaam's  entreaties  on  the  occasion.  Oh!  truly 
the  heathen  notions  of  God,  differed  but  little  from  their 
notions  of  men.  But  Balaam  knew  that  he  had  received 
an  express  answer  in  the  negative ;  and  therefore  behaved 
presumptuously  in  importuning  the  Lord.  It  would  seem, 
that  he  wished  to  insult  his  Maker  to  yield  to  his  design. 
He  tries  him,  again.  Oh !  what  impiety  to  ask  what  God 
had  peremptorily  forbidden.  But,  there  were  honors,  and 
money,  at  stake  —  which  to  a  mind  like  Balaam's,  were  the 
most  powerful  reasons  of  conduct. 

But  it  is  wonderful  that  any  man,  not  quite  metamor- 
phosed into  a  devil,  could  ask  the  Almighty  for  liberty  to 
curse  his  own  creatures !  Such  an  address  to  God,  could 
not  rationally  be  expected  to  receive  any  other  answer  but 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  67 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

a  refusal.  Will  a  good,  wise,  and  merciful  God,  endure 
the  prayers  of  a  man,  who  breathes  nothing  but  curses  and 
ruin  to  a  people,  who  had  never  injured  him?  Had  this 
prophet  been  bishop  of  Rome,  or  a  member  of  some  mod- 
ern associations,  and  organizations,  we  might  peradventure, 
have  inferred  that  he  meant  to  save  their  souls  by  giving 
their  flesh  to  the  devil ;  but  church  authority  was  not  prob- 
ably, then  known,  in  that  eastern  part  of  the  world.  Pos- 
sibly the  church-rulers  in  after*  times  took  the  hint  from  Ba- 
laam, in  their  excommunicating  people,  whom  they  dis- 
liked or  feared;  the  prophets  method  of  cursing,  would  no 
doubt  be  pretended  to  have  been  clothed  with  divine  au- 
thority; and  accounted  a  religious  act,  by  all  those  eastern 
superstitious  nations. 

This  prophet,  was  at  last  permitted  to  go  with  those  mes- 
sengers of  the  king  of  Moab ;  but  with  a  restraint  upon 
him,  which  did  not  well  suit  his  temper.  Like  all  people 
who  are  vicious,  if  you  once  humor  them,  they  aspire  after 
more  indulgence ;  Balaam  expected,  that  as  God  had  per- 
mitted him  to  go  with  Balak's  messengers,  he  would  also, 
finally,  allow  him  to  do  what  he  desired,  when  he  came  to 
the  expected  place  of  exercise.  But  as  he  was  not  disposed 
to  be  obedient  to  the  commands  of  the  Almighty ;  his  maker 
intended  to  teach  him  better  behavior,  by  a  severe  reproof, 
and  disappointment.  He  now,  therefore,  sent  his  angel,  to 
resist  him, —  who  stood  in  his  way,  and  interrupted  his 
march ! 

No  doubt  our  prophet  was  greatly  excited  by  the  prospect 
of  the  honors  and  rewards  which  the  king  of  Moab  had 
promised  should  he  succeed  in  his  enterprize.  Perhaps  he 
was  telling  over  in  his  mind,  the  honors  which  all  the  prin- 
ces of  Moab,  would  confer  upon  him;  and  the  enormous 
sum  of  money  that  he  should  bring  back  with  him!  and 
how  all  the  men  of  the  east,  would  reverence  him,  as  one 
of  the  greatest  intimates  of  the  divinity!  No  bishop,  or 
Cardinal,  who  ever  sat  in  convocation,  or  conclave,  perhaps 


68  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ever  had  greater  expectations  than  their  father,  Balaam ; 
when,  on  a  sudden,  his  ass  started  aside,  and  well  nigh  pros- 
trated her  rider  in  the  dirt !  The  ass  was  frightened  —  and 
it  was  no  wonder  —  for  she  saw,  what  was  invisible  to  her 
master :  an  angel  of  the  Lord,  stood  in  her  way  ! 

What  this  angel  was  clothed  with,  or  what  power  of  vi- 
sion  was   given  to   the  ass,  I  am   willing  to  leave  to  the 
critics;  but  she  saw  something  —  which  could  not  be  a 
spirit,  for  some  divines  say,  they  are  invisible  !     But  that  is 
not  all  —  she  started  again,   and  went  quite  off  the  track, 
into  the  field  !     Now  to  interrupt  a  man  in  his  journey,  who 
was  thus  bent  upon  it,  with  the  highest  hopes  of  coming 
back  with  riches  and  honors,  was  indeed,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  highly  provoking.     The  offence  was  the  greater,  as 
the  prophet  was  in  haste.     We  are  not  permitted  to  suppose 
him  otherwise;  for  he  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness. 
Again !  there  is  no  accounting  for  asses  when  they  turn 
giddy  ;  she  rushed  against  the  wall;  and  as  the  prophet 
appears  to  have  ridden  in  the  usual  manner  of  prophets, 
we  may  easily  suppose  that  one  of  his  legs,  was  in  no  good 
condition.     She  crushed  his  foot  against  the  wall.     Truly 
this  was  no  good  omen ;  there  was  some  reason  to  fear  the 
issue  of  this  affair.     The  ass  is  made  to  pay  soundly,  for 
being  so  giddy.     The  prophet  had  a  staff,  which  the  ass, 
poor  thing,   no  doubt  would  have  remembered,  as  long  as 
she  lived,  had  she  not  been  an  ass; — with  which  he  bela- 
bored her,  to  bring  her  to  a  sense  of  her  duty.     The  proph- 
et appears  to  have  been  old,  that  he  rode  with  a  staff,  oth- 
erwise he  ought  to  have  had  a  whip.     The  prophet  grows 
serious,  but  the  ass  more  so ; —  she  opened  her  mouth,  as 
she  had,   no  doubt  many  times  done  before,  but  in  a  very 
different  manner;  she  spoke  by  the  special  and  direct  agen- 
cy of  Heaven.     It  is  said  —  The  Lord  opened  the  mouth  of 
the  ass.     The  language  of  asses,  one  would  suppose,  might 
surprise  those  who  were  not  acquainted  with  it;  as  their 
organs  and  dialect,  generally,  are  none  of  the  finest, —  but 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  69 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

to  speak  in  human  style,  was  enough,  to  have  frightened 
any  man  out  of  his  senses ;  and,  probably,  any  man,  ex- 
cept Balaam,  would  have  fainted ;  but  his  mind  was  too 
full  of  honors  and  riches,  to  be  affected  by' any  such  thing. 
The  prophet's  ass  spoke  like  himself,  in  all  things  but  the 
style.  Am  not  I  thine  ass?  Poor  humble  creature  !  She 
had  served  him  long  enough  for  such  a  reward  —  he  beat 
her,  and  told  her,  if  he  had  a  sword,  he  would  kill  her !  ! ! 
Had  she  been  endowed  with  the  exercise  of  reason,  as  with 
the  use  of  language,  she  would  doubtless  have  changed  her 
master,  and  left  his  service.  The  use  of  language,  without 
a  right  exercise  of  reason,  though  very  common,  is  no  very 
high  attainment.  An  ass  may  speak,  but  it  still  is  an  ass. 
Our  asses  master,  was  like  many  since  his  time,  who  for- 
get great  and  good  services,  at  a  very  small  offence, —  nay, 
if  strictly  examined,  it  was  a  piece  of  faithful  service;  for 
it  saved  the  prophet's  life.  How  many  have  served  their 
country,  faithfully,  for  many  years,  who  yet  have  been 
served  like  the  prophet's  ass?  —  gotten  blows  and  tbreaten- 
ings  for  their  service,  instead  of  any  reward,  or  preferment, 
whatever?  Ah  !  many  invisible  agents,  we  learn  here,  are 
watching  the  motions  of  the  wicked  and  ungodly  ^an ! 
when  he  is  riding,  post  haste,  to  dishonor  his  maker; 
though  he  does  not  discern  the  invisible  agent,  who  inter- 
rupts him,  baring  up  his  way ;  the  animal,  that  carries  him, 
may,  by  signatures,  which  he  does  not  comprehend  !  It  is 
unspeakably  easy,  for  one  of  these  heavenly  messengers,  to 
dismount  the  best  rider  that  ever  mounted  a  horse.  When 
some  merciless  wretch  is  posting  on  to  accomplish  the  ends 
of  his  wickedness  and  cruelty ;  when  some  ambitious  cov- 
etous usurer  is  riding,  full  speed,  to  receive  the  wages  of 
unrighteousness ;  and  to  distress  the  widow  and  the  father- 
less; and  is  found  dead  at  his  horses  feet. —  who  knows, 
but  some  of  these  invisible  agents,  out  of  pity  to  mankind, 
are  the  instruments  of  vengeance,  upon  such  unprincipled 
and  incorrigible  sinners? 


70  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

The  prophet's  punishment,  as  yet,  is  not  equal  to  his 
crimes.  He  went,  with  a  full  purpose,  to  curse  a  people, 
whom  the  Almighty  had  blessed,  if  God  would  be  so  un- 
merciful as  to  permit  him.  It  was  a  mercy,  that  his  neck 
was  not  in  the  place  of  his  foot;  for  he  richly  deserved 
punishment,  for  disobedience  to  God,  and  his  horrible  de- 
signs against  his  people. 

Those  characters,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  political 
reasons,  of  the  several  prophets  and  teachers  of  mankind, 
and  some  churches,  do  perhaps,  know,  that  when  they  took 
upon  them  the  work  of  anathematizing  their  fellow  men, 
they  had  the  same  reasons  for  their  conduct,  which  led  on 
their  father  Balaam  to  get  all  the  gain  and  honor  by  it  pos- 
sible. 

When  men  for  difference  of  opinion,  usurp,  and  denounce 
the  curse  of  God  against  their  fellow  beings,  there  is  reason 
to  suspect  there  is  something  else,  at  the  bottom,  than  a  de- 
sire for  the  good  of  their  souls.  It  is  more  likely,  that  their 
own  importance,  and  private  interest,  and  honor,  are,  after 
all,  the  true  reasons  of  their  conduct.  It  has  often  cost  na- 
tions considerable  sums  of  money,  to  get  clear  of  the  curses 
of  the  prophets  !  It  seldom  happens,  that  such  prophets  as 
Balaam,  either  bless,  or  curse,  for  nothing.  The  least  thing 
that  can  be  expected,  as  an  excuse,  for  taking  it  upon  them 
to  curse  others,  is,  that  they  show  their  commission  from 
the  Lord,  for  doing  it;  otherwise  they,  themselves,  know, 
that  we  must  hold  them  in  the  same  predicament  with  Ba- 
laam, and  call  them  false  prophets.  Balaam's  conduct  to- 
wards his  ass,  is  very  similar,  to  the  conduct  of  civil  and 
religious,  loco  foco  rulers,  and  teachers,  towards  the  people 
over  whom  they  rule  —  and  the  language  of  the  ass,  like 
the  fruitless  complaint  of  an  enslaved  and  degraded  people. 
Balaam  had  his  ass  saddled  and  prepared  for  mounting,  be- 
fore he  got  on  to  ride.  It  always  requires  some  pains  of 
drilling,  to  prepare  a  people  to  bear  a  yoke  of  slavery  and 
loco  foco  degradation. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  71 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

In  matters  of  religious  concern,  merely,  it  is  necessary  in 
the  establishment,  to  have  the  people  well  persuaded  of  the 
rights  and  importance  of  the  bishops,  and  their  clergy,  and 
of  the  divinity  of  their  canons,  and  the  creeds  of  the 
churches,  before  they  will  submit  to  be  used  like  asses. 
The  jure  divino,  of  episcopacy,  or  popery,  are  pieces  of 
trapping,  that  their  prophets  prepare  for  those  asses  which 
they  intend  to  ride.  If  once  they  can  convince  them  that  their 
clergy  have  power  to  make  laws,  to  bind  the  conscience  of 
the  whole  community,  they  may  rein  them,  "every  which 
way,"  they  please. 

Were  it  not  calculated  to  give  offence  to  some  who  have 
more  zeal  than  understanding,  or  staid  principles  of  hon- 
esty, I  should  compare  the  articles  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, as  well  as  those  of  popery  or  puseyism,  to  the  trap- 
pings of  Balaam's  ass ;  for  it  is  clear  as  light,  that  these  are 
the  means  by  which  their  clergy  ride  upon  the  backs  of  the 
people.  Their  unchurching  of  all  evangelical  congregations 
of  believers,  and  their  furious  excommunications,  I  should 
compare  to  the  prophet's  staff,  with  which  he  belabored  his 
ass;  for  it  is  manifest,  that  when  those  who  become  en- 
Jightened  and  start  aside,  and  begin  to  think  for  themselves, 
and  are  not  tractable  enough  to  serve  their  devout  Hughes 
or  Onderdonk-masters,  that  they  are  ready  most  furiously 
to  curse  them  as  heretics  and  schismatics.  And  though 
these  evangelical  believers  should  be  ever  so  deeply  con- 
vinced in  their  own  minds,  of  the  truth  of  their  own  opin- 
ion, and  the  correctness  of  the  exercise  of  their  conscience ; 
if  the  angel,  as  in  the  case  referred  to,  should  stand  in  their 
way,  it  would  be  of  no  consequence  to  these  prophets  that 
rule  ;  the  people  must  suffer  for  their  impertinence,  and  be 
belabored  like  the  ass,  for  their  disobedience.  Indeed,  the 
persons,  in  general,  who  thus  submit  to  remain  in  religious 
slavery,  strikingly  resemble  the  prophet's  ass;  for  though 
they  complain  of  hard  usage,  they  still  recognize  their  mas- 
ters, and  by  this  fact,  say,  are  not  we  your  assesl 


72  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD/' 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

There  are  several  sorts  of  human  asses,  that  resemble 
the  prophet's  beast.  There  are  some,  that  start,  now  and 
then,  a  little,  and  reprove  or  rebuke  the  madness  of  their 
prophet,  but  who  yet,  continue  in  subjection,  and  are  good 
beasts  of  burden,  notwithstanding.  Of  this  sort,  are  all 
those  who  are  ever  crying  out  against  the  innovations  and 
corruptions  in  their  establishments,  but  all  the  while  con- 
tinue subject  to  those  impositions ;  such  are  braying  and 
noisy,  indeed;  but  yet  tame  asses;  they  mean  no  harm, 
notwithstanding  all  the  noise  they  make.  They  only  start, 
because  they  are  a  little  frightened  by  some  scarecrows  that 
happen  to  be  in  their  path.  The  moment  their  ghostly  ri- 
ders lift  their  rod,  and  begin  to  belabor  them  a  little  sharp- 
ly, they  are  ready  to  make  apologies  for  their  conduct,  and 
return  to  their  duty.  If  conscience  —  the  messenger  of 
God  within  them  —  at  any  time,  srartle  them,  as  the  angel 
did  Balaam's  ass,  yet  a  certain  portion  of  sound  discipline, 
which  may  be  supposed  either  to  effect  their  reputation  or 
worldly  interest,  will  soon  bring  them  on  to  the  old  track 
again,  and  make  them  say,  are  not  we  thine  asses  ?  The 
articles  of  the  church,  and  its  mother — popery — are  like 
the  two  laps  of  Balaam's  saddle,  which  are  well  girded 
upon  some  members  of  the  churches,  by  the  force  of  can- 
ons, and  the  power  of  deprivation.  Such  as  shall  be  so 
giddy  as  to  refuse  to  take  on  their  trappings,  will  be  made 
sufficiently  sensible  of  their  folly,  by  being  deprived  of  their 
livings,  or  loaded  with  church  censures. 

Yes,  it  is  by  the  use  of  such  trappings  as  those  now  rep- 
resented, that  the  clergy  of  the  church  support  their  au- 
thority—  for  they  could  not  ride,  without  their  saddle. 
Were  once  their  dupes  to  insist  upon  receiving  nothing  as 
their  creed,  but  the  scriptures,  as  understood  and  explained 
by  the  apostles  and  original  evangelists  and  teachers,  the 
clergy  of  popery,  and  "  the  church,"  would  soon  have  no 
more  authority,  than  what  good  services  and  good  conver- 
sation, would  procure  them.  They  would  then  be  obliged 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  73 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 


to  be  helpers  of  the  joy  of  Christians ;  but  should  be  no 
longer  lords  of  their  faith.  Good  men  will  always  respect 
their  teachers,  as  long  as  they  are  examples  of  goodness, 
and  condescend  to  men  of  low,  as  well  as  high  degree ;  but 
such  persons  as  understand  the  New  Testament,  will  re- 
ject all  attempted  dominion  over  their  consciences,  except 
the  dominion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and  therefore  will 
deride  all  such  clerical  jurisdiction  and  religious  dictators, 
as  "the  church"  and  popery  produce.  When  men  are  not 
allowed  the  exercise  of  private  judgment,  but  are  marked 
down  as  schismatics,  when  they  deviate  from  the  national 
establishment,  we  think  they  are  much  in  the  same  predic- 
ament as  that  of  the  prophet's  ass. 

No  Christians  have  any  reason  to  quarrel  with  the  reli- 
gion of  any  country,  where  toleration  is  allowed,  as  it  is  in 
our  own ;  but  still  those  have  reason  to  complain,  whose 
toleration  is  restricted,  and  whose  religious  opinions,  if  they 
continue  in  the  church,  are  attended  with  loss  to  them- 
selves ;  for  such  are  allowed  to  be  good  members  of  society? 
and  faithful  to  the  best  interest  of  their  country.  Any  in- 
telligent Christian  may  charitably  enough  say,  that  all  po- 
litical religions  serve  no  other  valuable  purpose,  but  to  ob- 
tain honor  and  money  from  the  state,  with  the  privilege  of 
denouncing  curses  upon  those  who  are  suspected  of  being 
inimical  to  their  mutual  dignity.  An  enslaved  people,  in 
such  a  case,  serve  the  same  purpose  as  the  prophet's  ass 
did  to  him  —  carry  them  to  seek  riches  and  honor;  for  it  is 
always  through  the  use  of  the  populace,  that  unprincipled 
and  ambitious  men,  raise  themselves  to  public  stations,  and 
obtain  their  wealth,  and  undeserved  honor.  Where  the 
government  of  churches  and  states,  has  been  arbitrary,  the 
enslaved  people  have  always  been  obliged  to  serve  the  in- 
terests of  both,  with  their  labor  and  substance.  The  popu- 
lace are  used  as  asses,  to  carry  the  regular  sportsmen,  who 
lead  parties  whithersoever  they  please  to  direct  them.  It 
often  happens  that  they  complain  of  ill-usage  ;  but  as  long 


74  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

as  they  have  not  a  just  sense  of  their  own  inalienable  rights, 
they  proceed  no  farther  than  to  make  some  feeble  com- 
plaints, saying,  are  not  we  your  asses,  on  which  you  have 
ridden,  ever  since  we  were  yours  ? 

Whenever  and  wherever,  mankind  are  once  correctly  and 
effectually  instructed  in  their  natural,  civil,  and  religious 
rights  and  privileges,  they  will  not  only  complain,  when 
they  find  themselves  oppressed,  but  will  struggle  till  they 
are  freed  from  such  oppression.  Wise  men  know  what  it 
is  to  obey  just  laws;  but  will  never  tamely  submit  to  the 
bondage  of  imposition.  It  is  a  base  degeneracy,  indeed,  to 
rest  quietly,  in  what  is  contrary  to  nature;  and  nothing 
can  be  more  contrary  to  the  nature  of  rational  and  evan- 
gelically enlightened  creatures,  than  to  be  destitute  of  lib- 
erty ;  and  hence,  to  submit  to  a  state  establishment,  with- 
out resistance,  shows  an  ignorance  of  the  rights  of  human 
nature.  Men  may  yield,  when  conquered,  but  they  can 
never  rationally  acknowledge  power  to  be  just,  when  there 
is  rottenness  in  the  constitution  of  the  government.  When 
any  government  is  not  founded  upon  correct  moral  princi- 
ples, it  will  always  be  managed  at  the  expense  of  the  lib- 
erty of  certain  classes  of  the  community ;  and  their  sub- 
mission to  such  power,  is  an  obedience  like  that  of  the 
prophet's  ass.  The  first  slavery  that  men  are  generally 
brought  under,  is  that  of  their  mind ;  for,  while  the  mind 
acts  freely,  and  is  kept  clear  of  the  chains  of  ignorance  and 
delusion,  it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  enslave  it.  Here 
then,  commences  the  agency  of  loco  foco  teachers,  to  se- 
duce mankind,  in  order  to  prepare  the  way  to  defraud  them 
of  their  civil  or  religious  privileges.  It  appears  to  be  a 
fact,  though  I  have  not  seen  it  noticed,  that  the  blending 
of  civil  and  religious  offices,  or  sacred  and  secular  things, 
has  been  the  introduction  to  all  kinds  of  artificial  slavery, 
in  every  instance,  at  least  where  arbitrary  power  has  pre- 
vailed. Where  these  have  been  kept  distinct,  freedom  has 
more  generally  prevailed.  However  paradoxical  it  may 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  75 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

seem  to  some,  it  may  be  demonstrated,  that  were  there  no 
alliance  between  church  and  state,  there  is  the  greater  por- 
tion of  civil  liberty.  When  church  officers,  therefore,  are 
advanced  to  civil  preferments,  or  civil  magistrates  permit- 
ted to  discharge  religious  offices  in  the  government  of  the 
church,  each  of  these  officers  will  labor  for  the  benefit  arid 
honor  of  the  other,  to  the  dishonor  of  the  people.  And 
here  they  are  under  two- fold  temptation.  The  loco  foco 
minister  is  ready  to  assume  the  prerogative  of  the  magis- 
trate, and  the  loco  foco  magistrate,  to  enforce  the  dignity  of 
the  loco  minister,  by  exerting  his  civil  authority  in  favor  of 
the  sacred  functionary ;  and  thus,  in  this  double  respect, 
become  lords  over  all  the  people.  For  this  reason,  men 
will  not  dare  to  express  the  truth,  if  it  seem  to  differ  from 
the  loco  foco  authorities ;  as  they  are  in  danger  of  either 
being  heartily  cursed  by  the  priesthood,  or  punished  by  the 
magistracy.  The  mind  being  thus  cramped  in  its  exer- 
cises, turns  at  length  servile  in  the  exercise  of  its  functions ; 
and  the  consequence  is,  intellectual  drunkenness  and  bon- 
dage. This  alliance  also  makes  the  teachers  in  the  church, 
indolent,  in  the  most  material  part  of  their  duty,  which  is 
to  impart  the  principles  of  evangelical  truth,  and  knowl- 
edge ;  and  thus  endeavor  to  free  their  minds  from  the  power 
of  ignorance.  This  they  cannot  do,  without  teaching  them 
the  right  of  private  judgment,  in  all  things,  with  respect  to 
their  conscience.  But  as  the  priest's  advantage,  in  papal 
or  episcopal  establishments,  does  not  arise  from  instructing 
the  people  evangelically,  making  them  acquainted  with  their 
true  and  highest  interests,  they  seldom  let  them  into  the 
secrets  of  their  policy.  Did  men  truly  comprehend  their 
liberty  of  conscience,  with  respect  to  religion,  we  should 
soon  see  that  the  pope,  and  his  cardinals  and  clergy,  and 
all  episcopal  bishops,  and  their  clergy,  would  no  longer 
have  asses  to  ride  upon,  to  carry  them  to  riches  and  pre- 
ferments. Yes,  were  men  well  instructed  in  these  things, 
popery,  church  and  state,  alliances,  and  all  systems  of  sla- 


76  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

very,  and  human  ass-making,  would  soon  come  to  nothing  ; 
for  if  mankind  considered  themselves  as  all  equally  con- 
cerned in  what  pertains  to  their  consciences,  and  that  each 
must  answer  for  himself,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  they 
would  not  consent,  a  moment,  to  any  system  which  takes 
from  them  their  highest  interest  forever.  Such  as  continue, 
therefore,  under  any  such  establishments,  are  not  a  whit 
better  than  Balaam's  ass,  which,  though  it  complained,  yet 
spake  with  the  greatest  submission  to  its  master — "Am 
not  I  thine  ass,  upon  which  thou  hast  ridden  ever  since  I 
was  thine?  "  As  it  is  intended  to  continue  this  review,  in 
another  discourse,  I  shall  here  conclude,  and  say,  Amen. 


SEBMON  IV. 


NUMBERS  XXII,  21—30. 

AND  BALAAM  ROSE  UP  IN  THE  MORNING,  AND  SADDLED  HIS  ASS, 
AND  WENT  WITH  THE  PRINCES  OF  MoAB.  AND  THE  ASS  SAID 
UNTO  BALAAM,  "  AM  NOT  I  THINE  ASS,  UPON  WHICH  THOU 

HAST    RIDDEN,    EVER    SINCE    I   WAS    THINE  ? " 

DEAR  READER,  you  know,  one  could  have  expected  no  better 
language  from  an  ass.  Yet,  it  is  a  pity  that  any  rationaj, 
creatures,  should  imitate  such  a  mean-spirited  and  servile 
animal.  All  the  dupes  of  arbitrary  power,  not  only,  but 
all  the  dupes  of  civil  and  religious  loco  foco  leaders,  of  par- 
ties who  submit  to  them,  have  daily,  uttered  words  of  the 
same  import.  Time  was,  you  know,  with  our  English, 
puritanic  fathers,  where  such  language  was  brayed  out  of 
pulpits,  and  squeezed  through  the  press,  by  those  famed 
loco  focos,  who  advocated  passive  obedience,  and  non-re- 
sistance. Who  could  make  any  thing  else  of  such  words 
as  these  ?  "  It  is  not  lawful  to  resist  the  king,  nor  any 
commissioned  by  him,  upon  any  pretence  whatever."  But 
were  not  they  the  asses  of  servants  of  the  king?  It  is  also 
bringing  men  into  the  same  predicament,  to  subject  their 
consciences  to  any  power  but  that  of  God  Almighty,  and 
his  will,  as  revealed  in  the  Holy  Bible.  When  they  are 
obliged,  under  the  pain  of  civil  losses,  to  subscribe  to  ar- 
ticles which  loco  foco  teachers  in  religion,  prescribe  for 
them,  we  solemnly  ask,  is  it  not  making  them  utter  the 
language  of  the  prophet's  ass?  "  Are  not  we  thine  asses?" 


78  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

I  have  said  before,  that  the  creeds  of  the  popish  and 
episcopal  establishments,  are  used  by  their  clergy,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  trappings  of  Balaam's  ass  —  to  keep 
their  asses  in  due  submission,  that  the  riders  may  sit  easy. 
This  is  manifest,  as  it  enables  them  to  keep  the  reins  in 
their  own  hands,  and  exercise  the  right  to  fix  this  trapping, 
by  selecting  all  the  officers,  that  they  admit  into  the  several 
churches.  It  is  not  every  one,  that  can  demand  this  secu- 
rity, or  that  are  accounted  judges  how  such  asses  should 
be  saddled ;  but  only  those  who  lay  claims  to  the  office  of 
master  of  the  ceremonies,  in  their  establishment.  Suppose 
a  teacher  was  ever  so  well  qualified  to  instruct  his  fellow 
beings,  and  understands  theology  in  all  its  branches,  far 
better  than  any  bishop  in  convocation,  or  any  cardinal  in 
the  conclave,  and  is  the  choice  of  any  one  of  their  congre- 
gations, yet  he  cannot  be  admitted,  until  he  has  humbly 
submitted  to  the  bishop,  and  said,  "Am  not  I  thine  ass?" 
As  the  common  people  had  never  any  hand  in  framing 
these  loco  foco  rules  and  articles,  nor  was  their  consent  ever 
even  asked,  it  appears,  plainly,  that  they  were  only  framed 
for  the  benefit  of  the  clergy. 

Now,  if  this  sort  of  trappings  were  not  more  for  their  ad- 
vantage, than  for  that  of  their  asses,  I  apprehend  they 
would  not  be  so  strenuous  in  supporting  them;  for  in  noth- 
ing do  those  loco  focos,  excel  other  people  so  much  as  in 
zeal  for  the  canons  and  articles,  of  their  establishments. 
It  is  evident  they  can  mean  no  more  by  them,  than  as  sad- 
dles to  ride  upon;  for  in  very  momentous  cases,  we  -find 
they  visibly  .violate  their  own  trappings.  And  if  we  know 
any  thing  about  the  common  powers  of  human  nature,  it 
would  much  puzzle  a  stranger,  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  Bible,  to  form  a  judgment  of  their  real  principles 
by  merely  comparing  their  creeds  and  articles,  with  the  fa- 
mous printed  surmons,  of  their  Bishops  and  clergy;  for 
though  the  articles  affect,  to  be  very  orthodox,  the  most  of 
their  sermons,  or  what  they  call  religious  discourses,  look, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  79 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

intensely,  the  other  way.  This  sort  of  religious  mechan- 
ism, serves  all  the  purposes  which  the  public  actors,  in  their 
political  farce  intend  by  it;  which  is,  to  fill  out  a  part  of  a 
scene,  at  the  time  of  performance;  and  then  be  withdrawn, 
till  another  public  occasion.  They;  themselves,  seem  not 
to  consider  it  of  any  use  in  private  life ;  else,  every  sub- 
scriber would  make  conscience  of  preachmg  the  same  doc- 
trine, in  his  sermons,  to  which  he  subscribed  in  the  articles. 
One  thing,  is  certainly  clear,  as  light  could  make  it,  that 
either  their  creeds  and  articles  are  wrong,  or  what  they  call 
their  sermons,  religious  disquisitions,  and  books  are  gener- 
ally so.  And  one  would  most  readily  conceive,  that  if  they 
believed  what  they  had  subscribed  in  the  articles,  they 
would  never  publish  the  reverse  to  the  world.  For  this 
reason  I  compare  them  to  the  trappings  of*  the  prophet's  ass, 
which  were  only  necessary  when  he  intended  to  ride. 
Whenever  the  bishops  and  their  clergy  are  disposed  to  ex- 
ercise their  authority,  they  do  it  by  the  use  of  these  stand- 
ards ;  to  these  they  appeal,  upon  occasions,  and  to  the  laws 
that  authorize  them ;  but  never,  except  to  support  their  own 
consequence  and  dignity.  On  all  other  occasions,  they  ob- 
serve them  as  little  as  other  men  ;  they  lay  by  their  trap- 
pings, until  they  have  some  ass  to  saddle. 

The  most  distinguished  of  champion  bishops,  among  the 
episcopal,  as  well  as  among  the  papal  Balaams,  for  advo- 
Tocating  creeds  and  confessions,  and  the  alliance  between 
church  and  state,  have  found  great  difficulty  to  make  use  of 
the  scriptures  without  them;  and  cannot  possibly  see,  how 
evangelical  congregations  can  make  a  confession  of  their 
faith  with  only  the  rules  of  the  scriptures  in  their  hands, 
so  fully  as  duty  requires.  To  be  sure,  if  the  faith,  as  de- 
livered to  the  saints,  be  not  in  some  measure  in  their  minds 
and  hearts,  I  should  doubt  much  as  to  the  materials  of 
them  being  right ;  yet  I  should  prefer  the  scriptures  rather 
better,  in  my  hand  and  heart,  than  either  the  church  arti- 
cles, or  any  of  their  creeds.  The  apostle,  and  the  evan- 


80  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

gelist,  saw  no  manner  of  difficulty,  in  what  has  appeared 
so  difficult  to  these  gentlemen  bishops.  The  apostle  told 
Timothy,  that  the  scriptures  were  profitable  for  all  things, 
to  make  the  man  of  God  perfect.  After  this,  we  graciously 
ask,  where  lies  the  difficulty?  The  scriptures,  perhaps,  do 
not  suit,  to  make  the  members  of  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world  perfect,'  in  the  sense  they  would  be  so ;  but  they  an- 
swer all  purposes  to  make  believers  perfect  in  the  sight 
of  God;  and  one  would  think  this  might  be  sufficient. 
Timothy,  you  know,  is  by  some  writers,  called  the  bish- 
op of  Ephesus  —  the  scriptures  were  sufficient  to  make  him 
perfect;  and  it  might  be  conjectured,  at  least,  that  they 
would  answer  the  same  purpose,  to  any  other  bishop. 

I  am  perhaps  a  little  too  fast,  here ;  I  had  forgot  that  as 
to  matter  of  fact,  Timothy  was  an  overseer,  of  a  single 
congregation;  and  preached  the  gospel  as  an  evangelist; 
was  instant  in  season,  and  out  of  season,  and  in  all  things, 
did  the  work  of  an  evangelist.  The  scriptures  might  an- 
swer his  purpose,  who  was  no  higher  in  office,  than  a  self 
denied  minister  of  Jesus  Christ ;  but,  alas  !  they  may  not 
answer  the  same  end  to  a  rich  and  voluptuous  diocesan. 
Large  creeds  and  articles  are  much  like  large  grammars, — 
they  help  to  sustain  the  negligence  and  incapacity  of  the 
teachers;  but  scholars,  would  obtain  more  knowledge  from 
the  original  sources,  if  the  principles  and  beauties  were 
ably  and  correctly  explained  and  pointed  out  to  them,  than 
from  any  of  those  subsidies  of  human  boobies,  and  hum- 
bugers. 

Were  the  professed  teachers  of  the  scriptures,  skilfully 
employed  in  explaining  their  doctrines  and  in  pointing  out 
their  beauties  and  excellences;  and  engaged,  in  earnest,  in 
showing  the  evidence  of  them,  to  persuade  others;  this 
would  answer  a  much  better  purpose  than  to  impose  hu- 
man dogmas,  that  bare  not  the  least  resemblance  to  the 
scriptures.  It  has  been  often  alleged,  in  behalf  of  long 
creeds,  that  a  general  knowledge  cf  religion  is  more  easily 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  81 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

propagated  and  kept  up  by  them,  among  the  people.     If 
we  may  judge  from  experience  and  observation,   with  re- 
spect to  this  matter,  it  will  be  found  to  be  by  no  means 
true  ;  for   ignorance  of  religion  and  infidelity  have  often 
abounded  most,  where  these  are  the  longest  and  the  most 
strenously  enforced.     And  let  any  man  try  the  experiment, 
when  he  has  a  mind,  and  he  will  invariably  find,  that  those 
people  who  most  read  the  Bible,  and  hold  by  it,  have  much 
more  knowledge  of  religion  than  any  of  the  most  zealous 
devotees  of  the  creeds  and  articles  of  English  episcopacy,  or 
the  bishops  of  Rome.     One  cannot  but  be  sorry  to  find  our 
Savior  brought  in  by  a  state  creed-stickler,  as  a  patron  for 
modern  creed-making ;  we  are  told  that  he  has  sanctified  the 
use  of  them  by  his  own  repeated  practice,  —  because  he  de- 
manded we  should  confess,  that  we  believed  in  him,  before 
he  would  bestow  special  favor;  and  said,  "Believest  thou 
this?"     Our  Savior,  no  doubt,  required  such  a  confession, 
from  whom  he  pleased,  as  the  king  in  his  church,  and  the 
Lord  and  recognizer  of  the  conscience ;  and  always  required 
them  to  believe  in  himself,  as  both  the  object  and  author  of 
saving  faith.     But  his  requirement  in  this  manner,  affords 
not  the  least  ground  of  argument,  for  human  creeds.    It  may 
perhaps  be  an  argument  for  requiring  belief  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  but  can  be  none  at  all,  for  requiring  our  belief 
in  human  compositions.     Besides  we  are  told  by  this  same 
human-creed-monger,  that  such  confessions  were  introduc- 
tions to  miracles,  and  ceased  long  ago,  as  miracles  have 
done.     Taking  the  argument  for  human  creeds,  in  his  own 
way,  he  must  either  give  up  the  business  of  creed-making, 
or  work  miracles.     Whatever  plausible  argument  may  be 
offered,  for  church  power,  and  the  alliance  between  church 
and  state ;  yet,  after  they  are  brought  to  their  height,  by 
either  popery  or  episcopacy,  they  end  in  what  Paul,  calls 
infidelity. 

The  author,  above  referred  to,  in  stating  a  comparison. 

between  the  power  of  the  legislature  in  civil  and  religious 
6 


82  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

affairs,  affirms, —  that  the  legislatures,  in  Christian  societies, 
are  bound  to  observe  the  great  character  of  religious  liber- 
ty; and  never  to  depart  from  the  principles  which  it  con- 
tains; but  always  following  the  spirit  of  that,  the  legisla- 
ture are  at  liberty  to  make  laws,  suited  to  many  new  cases, 
which  the  "scriptures  have  not  provided  for."  What  are 
these  1  They  must  be  cases  which  do  not  belong  to  the 
purity  and  perfection  of  believers.  What  could  any  infidel, 
have  said  more?  This  is  giving  up  the  perfection  of  the 
scriptures  at  once;  and  giving  to  loco  foco  civil  magistrates 
a  power,  to  make  up  its  deficiencies  !  But  we  are  told,  to 
such  legislative  power  men  must  submit;  or  give  up  the 
advantages  of  society  in  religion !  We  think  a  faithful, 
and  intelligent  reader  of  the  New  Testament,  will  discover 
no  occasion  for  this.  The  advantages  of  society  in  religion 
do  not  depend  upon  power,  but  upon  will.  Where  all  are 
truly  religious,  there  they  have  all  the  benefits  of  society  in 
their  religion,  they  desire ;  and  they  need  no  power  to  keep 
them  good  members  of  society,  but  that  of  truth.  If  by 
benefits  in  society  is  meant  large  beneficies,  and  emolu- 
ments secured  to  them,  by  the  power  of  the  magistrate; — 
these  Christians  do  not  expect',  but  leave  them  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world ;  or,  whom  they  may 
concern.  All  they  want,  is  permission  and  toleration  to 
serve  God  in  their  own  way,  according  to  the  dictates  of 
their  own  consciences,  as  the  word  of  God  directs  them. 
But  we  have  been  told,  and  Christians  are  now  told  on  the 
other  side  of  the  water,  and  the  time  may  ere  long  come, 
when  they  will  again  be  told  here,  "  As  single  Christians  or 
individuals,  they  may  enjoy  the  right  of  judging  for  them- 
selves, or  the  right  of  private  judgment  in  its  fullest  extent; 
and  each  may  pursue  his  own  opinions  without  control, 
while  each,  with  a  Bible  in  his  hand,  is  a  church  to  himself." 
But  then,  says  the  writer,  what  chance  is  there  that  the 
knowledge  of  religion  shall  long  survive  on  this  footing, 
where  no  provision  is  made  for  instructing  the  people  in  the 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  83 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

faith  and  duties  of  the  gospel,  and  every  one  is  left  to 
pursue,  at   his  will,  the  cares  and  pleasures  of  this  life, 
without  any  stated  call  to  think  of  religion?  "     The  great 
emphasis  in  this  paragraph   rests,  you  see,  on  the  word 
provision.     And  it  will  readily  be'  acknowledged  that  this 
writer  judges  very  right  with  respect  to  his  denomination, 
for  there  are  but  few  indeed  of  the  clergy  of  the  Episcopal 
or  Papal  church,  who  will  undertake  to  instruct  mankind 
without  some  provision  for  doing  it.     But  yet  one  would 
think,  after  all,  his  fears  were  very  needless,  that  Christians 
will  grow  ignorant  when  they  have  the  use  of  the  Bible. 
But  though  they  have  the  Bible,  they  have  not  a  stated  call, 
to  use  it,  without  a  sufficient  provision  to  excite  them  to  it." 
In  Christ's  name,  I  ask,  where  is  the  virtue  of  all  this?    If 
they  serve  God  only  for  money  and  preferments.    This  is  the 
way  to  make  hypocrites,  and  pharisees, —  but  not  the  way 
to  make  Christians.     But  may  it  not  happen,  that  Christians 
shall  make  all  necessary  provision  for  themselves  as  to  in- 
struction, by  choosing  from  among  themselves  and  fitting 
persons  for  the  business  of  instruction,  who  shall  preside  in 
their  worship;  and  support  them,  by  their  own  liberality; 
if  the  state  will  not  support  them  without  bringing  them  to 
sign  their  loathsome  articles  1     But  here  religious  state  au- 
thors, tell  us — "that  all  the  advantages  of  public  and  so- 
cial religion,  will  be  lost,  if  men  do  not  join  in  legislating 
for  securing  those  advantages."     The  advantages  of  society 
can  never  be  lost  among  real  intelligent  Christians,  who  en- 
deavor to  edify  one  another  in  love,  upon  the  principles  of 
the  Gospel.     Christians  may,   indeed,  loose  those  advanta- 
ges  which  foster  pride  and  promote  luxury;    which,  by 
pharasees,  would  be  accounted  a  great  loss ;  but  by  chris- 
tians  it  would  be  accounted  no  loss  at  all,  but  which  they 
have  faith  to  endure.     Advantages,  are  the  great  things 
constantly  in  view,  with  all  high-church  legislatures.     The 
power,  they  talk  about,  is  to  secure  such  advantages.     But 
where  has  this  power  always  been  lodged?    And  who  are 


84  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

at  any  time,  or  any  place,  the  proper  persons  to  judge  of 
men's  fitness  to  teach  and  edify  Christians?  There  can  be 
no  power  created,  or  appointed  in  this  matter,  but  what  is 
already  appointed,  definitely,  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
who,  in  the  Gospel  has  told  us  what  sort  of  persons  those 
must  be  who  are  privileged  to  take  upon  themselves  the 
office  of  teaching  men  the  Gospel.  They  must  be  self-de- 
nied believers  —  learned  in  the  scriptures,  apt  to  teach,  and 
servants  of  all;  possesed  of  no  power  but  that  of  promoting 
the  intelligence  and  order,  and  helping  the  joy  of  believers. 
Believers  have  a  better  security  for  their  instruction  than 
any  power,  appointed  by  human  device.  The  promise  of 
God,  secures  to  the  church,  all  needed  instruction,  where 
Christians  are  allowed  to  do  their  duty. 

It  would  appear  that  the  dignified  church-guides  of  our 
puritan  fathers,  did  account  them  asses,  indeed,  who  could 
not  admit  for  a  moment  that  they  could  know  the  way  to 
be  religious,  pointed  out  in  the  scriptures  without  the  use 
of  their  loco  foco  machinery !  However,  this  much,  we 
are  willing  to  say,  to  their  praise,  that  common  Christians 
at  that  period  were,  generally,  more  indebted  to  their  school- 
masters, who  learned  their  children  to  read,  than  they  ever 
were  to  the  high  church  clergy,  for  instruction  in  religion. 
Intelligent  children,  brought  up  like  those  of  our  New  Eng- 
land pilgrim  fathers,  with  the  Bible  in  their  possession, 
are  in  no  danger  of  erroneous  corruptions  with  regard 
to  fundamental  truth,  until  they  happen  to  come  under 
the  influence  of  some  "wind-of-doctrine-loco-foco. "  — 
And  I  say,  before  all  their  duped  congregations,  that 
a  Christian  may  learn  what  is  unspeakably  of  more 
value  to^  him,  by  carefully  perusing  the  Bible,  only  one 
half  hour  a  day,  than  he  could  by  culling,  from  their  mys- 
ticism, a  whole  life.  The  steam  boat  loads  of  their  steam 
which  have  disgraced  our  times,  are  in  my  view  of  them, 
in  the  mass,  the  greatest  misfortune  that  could  befall  the 
rising  generation.  School  masters,  of  the  puritan  stamp, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  85 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

to  teach  the  people  to  read  the  scriptures,  instead  of  any 
of  those  jnst  now  named,  who  pointed  out  the  doctrines, 
and  duties  of  Christianity,  would  have  put  the  present  gen- 
eration in  possession  of  vastly  more  valuable  knowledge,  in 
this  department,  than  is  now  enjoyed.  Though  our  Sa- 
vior plainly  declared  before  Pontius  Pilate,  that  his  king- 
dom is  not  of  this  world,  there  are  attempts  made  even  at 
the  present  day,  through  the  use  of  civil  associations  and 
organizations,  as  well  as  in  the  days  of  the  pilgrim  fathers, 
to  prove  the  contrary  —  and  we  are  told,  by  Episcopacy, 
at  least,  that  our  Lord's  testimony  does  not  prove,  that 
Caesar  had  no  right  to  interfere  in  religious  matters.  Caesar 
might  interfere  with  any  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world, 
as  he  had  a  mind  ;  but  how  could  he  interfere  with  a 
kingdom  which  is  not  of  this  world?  It  lay  altogether, 
above  and  beyond  his  jurisdiction. 

Our  Savior  could  not  have  spoken  in  more  express  terms, 
that  Caesar  had  nothing  to  do  with  his  kingdom,  than  he  did, 
by  declaring  that  it  did  not  pertain  to  this  world  ;  for  .Cae- 
sar had  jurisdiction  in  no  kingdoms,  but  such  as  pertain  to 
this.  It  has  been  often  affirmed,  that  our  Lord's  testimony 
before  Pontius  Pilate,  does  not  decide  the  right  of  the  mag- 
istrate's power  over  the  church  or  congregation  of  believers. 
But  just  let  this  testimony  be  considered  as  common  sense 
would  lead  any  man  to  understand  it.  And  Jesus  answered, 
my  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  ;  for  then  would  my  ser- 
vants fight,  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews;  but 
now  is  my  kingdom  not  from  iience.  Pilate  therefore  said 
unto  him,  art  thou  a  king,  then?  Jesus  answered,  thou 
sayest  that  I  am  a  king.  To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for 
this  cause  came  I  into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  wit- 
ness of  the  truth.  Every  one,  who  is  of  the  truth,  hear- 
eth  my  voice.  Any  one  must  observe,  at  first  view,  here, 
that  Christ  professeth  himself  to  be  a  king,  and,  that  he 
had  a  kingdom;  and  that  his  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 
Now,  whatever  kingdom  this  might  be,  no  civil  magistrate 


86  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

can  have  any  jurisdiction  over  it,  without  being  a  king 
above  Christ.  If  Csesar  had  any  jurisdiction  over  the 
church,  to  govern  it,  then  Christ  could  not  be  king  in  that 
kingdom,  but  Caesar.  At  best,  it  must  be  supposed,  that 
Csesar,  or  the  civil  magistrate,  whoever  it  be,  has  power 
over  the  church,  either  with  the  leave  of  Christ,  or  without 
it.  If  without  Christ's  leave,  he  exercise  this  power,  then 
the  magistrate  is  the  head  of  the  church;  but  if  with  his 
leave,  as  pretended,  this  should  be  shown  from  the  New 
Testament.  Indeed,  the  nature  of  the  thing,  and  the  tes- 
timony of  our  Saviour,  both  suggest  the  reflection,  that 
there  can  be  no  authority  either  in  or  over  his  church,  but 
what  he  appointed  by  his  own  authority.  If  the  magis- 
trate claims  any  power  over  the  church,  he  must  show  his 
instructions  for  it  from  him  who  says  "  He  is  a  king,  and 
for  that  end  came  into  the  world." 

But  here  high-church  sticklers  say,  if  human  power  be, 
in  any  degree  necessary  for  the  government  of  the  church, 
thaj;  power  must  be  vested  in  the  hands  of  the  civil  magis- 
trates, to  whom  all  human  power  naturally  belongs  and  to 
whom  our  Lord  here  declares  that  he  leaves  it  in  its  full 
extent."  [Thu§  much  with  reference  to  Essay  on  Estab- 
lishments, p.  69.] 

But  this  reasoning  is  rjmined  by  an  if;  for  human  pow- 
er has  no  more  to  do  with  the  government  of  the  church  of 
Christ,  than  ministers  of  Christ's  church,  have  to  be  civil 
magistrates ;  and  they  have  no  more  connection  with  one 
another,  than, the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  have  with  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  Christ  says,  he  came  into  the  world, 
and  was  born  to  be  a  king;  and  adds,  that  his  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world.  If  he  is  a  king,  then  all  the  laws  by 
which  his  church  is  governed,  must  be  of  his  own  making; 
for  He  admits  no  partners  with  himself,  in  legislation. 
Those  who  add  to,  or  diminish  from,  the  laws  which  he 
has  made,  are  guilty  in  his  sight.  Now  the  truths  con- 
tained in  the  Divine  record,  are  the  laws  by  which  he  rules 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  87 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

the  consciences  of  his  people,  and  from  the  nature  of  the 
case,  also,  it  is  manifest  that  they  cannot  be  subject  to  any 
human  legislation  in  this  matter.  Even  the  Christian's 
obedience  to  magistrates  as  governors  of  civil  society,  is 
founded  upon  express  scripture  precept:  "Let  every  soul 
be  subject  to  the  higher  powers.  And  it  is  because  Christ, 
by  his  apostles,  commanded  Christians  to  be  obedient  to 
magistrates,  that  they  are  bound  to  obey  them;  but  not  be- 
cause they  themselves  require  it.  So  little  power  have 
magistrates  over  the  church  of  God,  to  govern  it,  and  make 
laws  in  it,  that  they  have  not  even  a  title  to  civil  reverence 
from  Christians,  but  what  is  founded  upon  Christ's  au- 
thority. 

And  we  would  ask  these  zealous  advocates  of  the  power 
of  the  civil  magistrate  over  the  people,  where  they  find,  in 
the  New  Testament,  either  precept  or  examples  for  blend- 
ing civil  and  sacred  things,  after  this  manner'?  Whatever 
men  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  say  in  favor  of  such 
blending  of  civil  and  religious  matters,  which  is  not  founded 
in  the  sacred  oracles,  ought  never  to  have  any  weight 
among  intelligent  Christians.  It  may,  like  the  traditions 
of  the  Jews,  serve  the  purpose  of  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes 
of  national  and  papal  establishments,  to  blind  the  minds  of 
the  ignorant,  and  by  that  means  keep  the  people  in  subjec- 
tion to  their  ghostly  guides.  But  this  will  appear  to  all 
who  learn  their  religion  from  the  Bible,  of  just  as  much 
consequence  to  their  loco  foco  teaches,  as  the  trappings  of 
Balaam's  ass. 

It  is  no  less  than  absurd,  to  reason  from  Christ's  spiritual 
power  in  the  church,  to  the  power  of  God  in  civil  society, 
and  at  the  same  time  imagine  that  men  are  equally  de- 
prived of  liberty  to  make  alterations  in  each  of  these  king- 
doms! The  cases  are  quite  different;  Christ  has  given 
a  perfect  system  of  all  doctrines,  and  duties,  which  relate 
to  the  salvation  of  men's  souls ;  and  revealed  all  things 
which  pertain  to  the  conscience,  that  every  man  may  judge 


88  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

for  himself,  concerning  all  those  matters  he  is  to  answer  foi 
at  the  day  of  judgment,  as  they  are  matters  which  imme- 
diately respect  their  faith  and  obedience  to  God  himself. 
The  laws  of  civil  society,  have  only  respect  to  the  bodies 
of  men;  they  cannot  extend  beyond  what  pertains  to  the 
body;  the  two  kingdoms  are  just  as  different  as  the  inter- 
ests of  men's  souls  and  bodies  are ;  and  the  nature  and 
spirit  of  the  laws  of  each  society,  are  as  different  from  one 
another,  as  body  and  spirit. 

There  is  a  remarkable  passage  in  the  Essay  on  civil 
regulations  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  which  shows  the 
distress  of  the  party  to  form  their  political  image  of  iron 
and  clay ;  it  runs  :  —  "  Those,  who,  in  defiance  of  religious 
establishments,  require  a  gospel  precedent,  require  what 
the  nature  of  the  thing  does  not  admit  of.  The  gospel  con- 
tains the  history  only  of  the  Divine  original  of  our  religion; 
and  leaves  it  before  it  had  formed  any  human  connections. 
How,  then,  can  the  gospel  furnish  an  example  of  such  con- 
nection ;  or  how  can  the  want  of  the  example,  be  an  argu- 
ment against  the  connection?" 

This  is  a  fair  confession,  that  there  is  no  example  of  es- 
tablishments, in  the  New  Testament ;  but  perhaps  as 
strange  a  reason  is  given  for  this  defect,  as  ever  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive.  "  The  gospel  history 
falls  short,  and  comes  not  so  far  down,  as  the  forming  of 
human  connections,  and  leaves  this  matter  unfinished!" 
But  the  question  is  not,  whether  the  gospel  history  of 
churches,  leaves  religion  before  it  formed  connections  with 
the  world ;  but  whether  it  leaves  it  before  it  was  perfect  1 
It  would  appear,  that  as  this  history  mentions  none  of  these 
connections,  the  author  of  it  intended  there  never  should 
be  any !  If  there  is  not  a  perfect  account  of  religion,  in 
the  gospel  history,  it  is  hard  to  say  where  we  shall  find 
any;  and  it  is  a  sad  reflection  upon  the  wisdom  of  its  Au- 
thor, to  say  it  is  deficient  in  such  a  momentous  matter  as 
the  very  constitution  of  a  church ! 


"THINGS     NEW    AND    OLD,"  89 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

We  find  as  whimsical  a  reason  given,  why  there  is  no 
precept  concerning  this  point,  in  the  New  Testament.  This 
author  tells  us  —  "  It  would  have  been  useless !  "  For  men, 
no  doubt,  were  wise  enough  to  understand,  "That  they 
might  safely  enjoy  peace,  under  the  protection  of  govern- 
ment, and  to  unite  their  endeavors  with  it,  for  the  public 
good  !  "  But  may  not  men  enjoy  the  protection  of  govern- 
ment, and  live  peaceably,  without  joining  together  what 
Christ  has  appointed  to  be  kept  distinct?  Common  sense, 
will,  indeed,  teach  men  that  they  should  enjoy  peace,  when 
they  can  have  it  with  a  safe  conscience,  and  live  so,  as 
good  members  of  community,  under  any  goverment  which 
permits  them  to  live  and  use  their  Christian  privileges;  and 
the  scriptures  teach  the  same  thing;  but  they  do  not  teach 
that  Christians  are  at  liberty  to  confouad  civil  and  religious 
things.  As  members  of  civil  society,  they  are  to  mingle 
with  it,  do  the  duties  of  men,  under  the  regulation  of  civil 
policies;  but  as  Christians,  they  have  another  Lord,  and  are 
governed  by  a  policy  quite  different.  And  therefore,  in  all 
matters  of  religion  and  conscience,  when  they  are  imposed 
upon  by  any  human  trappings,  they  will  say  —  "whether 
is  it  lawful  to  obey  God  or  man?  judge  ye."  They  will 
be  ready  to  submit  to  Providence,  and  suffer,  when  they 
cannot  prevail  with  those  in  power,  to  let  them  alone ; 
but  will  never  comply,  at  the  expense  of  truth  and  con- 
science.* This  was  the  reasoning  of  our  puritan  fathers: 

*An  act  of  17th  Charles  II.,  by  which  nonconformist  ministers  were  pro- 
hibited, unless  in  crossing  the  road,  to  come  or  be  on  any  pretence,  what- 
ever, after  March  24th,  1665,  within  five  miles  of  any  city,  town-corporate, 
or  borough  that  sent  burgesses  to  Parliament;  or  within  5  miles  of  any  par- 
ish, town,  or  place,  wherein  they  had,  since  the  act  of  oblivian,  been  par- 
son, vicar  or  lecturer,  &c.,  or  where  they  had  preached  in  any  conventicle. 

.igain,  Charles  I,  of  tyrannical  memory,  was  beheaded  on  the  39th  of 
January,  164!),  he,  absurdly  enough,  called  himself,  and  was  called  by  stick- 
lers for  the  church,  a  martyr  ;  and  the  anniversary  of  his  martyrdom,  has 
afforded  the  high  church  clergy  fine  opportunities  for  displaying  their  zeal 
for  the  church,  and  mourning  over  her  calamities  brought  on  by  that  event. 

Once  more.  The  famous  act  for  the  uniformity  of  public  prayers,  and 
other  rights  and  ceremonies,  &c.,  in  the  church  of  England,  which  re- 
ceived tho  royal  assent,  on  the  19th  of  May,  1662,  and  took  effect  on  the 
JJ4th  of  August,  following,  being  "  St.  Bartholomew's  day,"  assent  and 


90  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

All  that  lies  within  the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate,  is  to 
protect  all  his  subjects  in  the  exercise  of  that  religion  which 
they  choose  for  themselves ;  and  as  long  as  they  continue 
good  subjects,  give  them  his  protection.  But  he  has  no 
right  to  direct  them  in  their  choice  of  religion,  but  to  choose 
his  own.  I  do  freely  confess,  that  the  magistrate  has  an 
undoubted  right  even  to  make  choice  of  a  religion  for  such 
as  submit  to  be  his  creatures,  and  that  have  no  visible  ex- 
istence in  any  church  but  a  political  one.  As  they  are  his 
servants,  that  he  pays  for  presiding  over  the  religion  of  the 
state,  it  is  but  reasonable  that  he  should  choose  work  for 
his  own  servants.  The  magistrate  has  no  doubt  a  right  to 
dispose  of  the  resources  of  the  state,  for  the  use  of  govern- 
ment; and  those  who  are  inclined  to  dispose  of  their  reli- 
gion, for  some  of  its  profits,  may  make  the  best  bargain 
they  can  ;  but  if,  by  any  unlawful  compromise,  or  combi- 
nation betwixt  the  magistrate,  and  his  clergy,  any  number 
of  the  subjects  are  unjustly  oppressed,  they  have  the  great- 
est reason  to  complain,  and  say,  they  are  not  free.  This 
connection  between  the  magistrate  and  his  clergy,  has  long 
been  called  by  the  pompous  name  of  an  alliance  between 
church  and  state ;  but  the  word  church,  has  been  very  un- 
justly applied  to  one  of  the  parties  in  this  alliance.  The 
New  Testament  signification  of  the  word  church,  denotes 
all  professed  believers  of  the  gospel ;  and  one  would  readily 
conceive  there  could  be  no  alliance,  without  the  consent  of 
all  believers.  The  Commons  in  England,  unless  such  as 
are  patrons  of  the  establishment,  have  nothing  to  say  in 
the  election  of  their  pastors.  The  clergy  frequently  have 
elected  one  another,  and  of  course,  are  sure  to  choose  such 

consent  to  its  provisons,  were  to  be  declared  by  that  day,  by  all  puritans, 
on  pain  of  deprivation  of  their  livings,  if  the  offenders  were  in  the  minis- 
try, and  if  school  masters  or  tutors  in  any  seminary,  three  months'  im- 
prisonment, and  a  fine  of  five  pounds  sterling.  About  ten  thousand  min- 
isters could  not,  with  a  good  conscience,  comply,  and  they  were  deprived 
accordingly.  The  universal  testimony  of  credible  history,  to  the  characters 
of  these  men,  is,  that  no  nation  or  church,  since  the  days  of  the  apostles, 
have  been  more  highly  adorned,  than  by  them. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  91 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

as  are  well  disposed  to  the  alliance.  The  magistrate  has 
also,  often  presented  many  of  them,  and  left  it  to  the  clergy 
to  elect  them,  by  a  conge  cF  elire.  which,  to  be  sure,  the 
members  of  such  a  profitable  alliance,  will  take  care  to 
supply  with  good,  trusty  fellows,  of  their  own  sentiments. 

This  is  only  an  alliance  between  the  king  and  his  clergy; 
or  between  the  civil  government,  and  such  as  are  hired,  to 
be  its  servants.  It  can  never  justly  deserve  the  name  of  an 
alliance  between  church  and  state;  for  the  greateet  part  of 
the  members  of  the  church,  have  none  to  represent  them 
in  the  constitution  of  the  alliance. 

It  has  been  observed  already,  that  this  alliance,  is  the 
principal  cause  of  civil  and  religious  oppression,  wherever 
it  takes  place;  and  of  which,  the  oppressed  in  England, 
are  to  this  hour,  uttering  their  complaints;  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  alliance  on  the  side  of  the  church,  take  care 
that  none  enjoy  any  of  her  emoluments  without  engaging 
to  be  tools  of  state;  and  the  members  on  the  side  of  the 
state,  take  care  that  none  be  preferred  to  any  office  under 
the  crown,  without  engaging  to  be  the  servants  of  the 
church.  Here  is  popery  for  you  !  Now  before  such  en- 
gagements were  entered  into,  in  which  the  whole  nation 
were  concerned,  not  only  as  to  civil  interests,  but  as  to 
conscience;  it  would  have  been  but  reasonable  that  'all 
the  members  of  church  and  state,  should  have  been  con- 
sulted. The  clergy  in  parliament  cannot  be  said  to  repre- 
sent the  church,  unless  they  were  elected  by  all  the  com- 
municants in  England,  and  have  no  right  to  fix  laws 
upon  them  without  their  consent.  Where  is  the  reason 
of  men  taking  upon  them  to  represent  people  without  their 
consent;  and  to  impose  laws  upon  them,  to  which  they 
had  never  engaged  to  submit?  Yes,  in  this  alliance  all 
common  Christians  in  England,  were  considered  as  so 
many  asses,  for  the  bishops,  and  their  clergy,  to  ride  upon 
to  riches  and  preferment.  They  first  entered  into  an  al- 
Jiance,  without  their  advice,  and  took  upon  them  to  be 


92  "THINGS    NEW    AND    QVLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

their  teachers,  without  consulting  them;  and  then  joined 
in  making  laws,  compelling  them  to  pay  for  their  service; 
without  ever  giving  them  notice,  till  they  were  called  to 
pay.  And  what  has  been  worst  of  all,  after  making  them 
pay,  soundly,  for  usurping  the  office,  of  being  their  teach- 
ers, yet  they  never  were  at  pains  to  fulfil  the  duties  of 
that  character.  In  this  alliance,  the  church,  signifies  no 
more,  but  the  clergy;  and  the  state,  the  richest  man  in 
the  nation ;  and  these  two  parties,  to  secure  their  own 
private  interest,  join,  to  oppress  the  community,  by  laying 
on  taxes  to  pay  the  pensions,  of  the  tools  of  this  alliance. 

There  is  some  reason  to  suppose,  that  had  there  not  been 
some  considerable  worldly  advantages  and  emoluments,  ar- 
rising  from  this  alliance,  to  these  holy  men,  who  were  so 
earnest  in  joining  with  state,  that  it  would  long  since  had 
leave  to  sustain  its  own  weight,  as  far  as  respected  their 
assistance.  There  are  a  goodly  number  of  people  who 
would  join  interests,  with  such  as  are  ready  to  pay  some 
thousands  a  year,  for  doing  nothing.  Balaam  longed  to 
join  with  the  king  of  Moab,  after  he  had  been  informed  of 
great  promised  honors  and  riches;  but  there  is  the  greatest 
reason  to  believe,  that  he  would  never  have  saddled  his  ass, 
had  he  not  had  the  expectation  and  promise  of  wealth  and 
dignity.  Were  there  not  so  many  honors  and  advantages 
attending  this  famous  alliance,  I  might  venture  to  prophecy, 
that  there  would  be  few  of  the  present  clergy  in  it.  Money 
is  just  about  as  ill  spent  by  the  government,  upon  the  clergy 
in  this  alliance,  as  the  charges  Balak  laid  out  upon  Ba- 
laam, in  carrying  him  abroad,  to  curse  the  children  of  Is- 
rael. The  one,  has  never  answered  the  purpose  it  is  de- 
signed for,  more  than  the  other.  If  all  the  money  spent 
upon  priests  of  the  establishment  and  of  downright  papacy, 
had  been  devoted  to  maintain  teachers  to  instruct  the  peo- 
ple in  the  true  doctrines  and  duties  of  religion,  and  loyalty, 
we  might  say,  it  was  all  saved.  If  we  have  any  reason 
for  judging,  from  facts,  it  could  be  very  easily  made  to  ap- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  93 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

pear,  that  the  people  are  as  wise,  religious  and  loyal,  to  the 
government,  who  have  borne  the  expense  of  their  own  reli- 
gion, and  paid  their  own  teachers,  as  any  portion  of  those, 
who  have  been  under  the  nose  of  any  bishop  of  England. 
Had  the  government  seen  fit  to  diminish  the  taxes  upon  the 
people,  and  supplied  their  places,  with  taxes  upon  the  dean 
and  chapter  lands,  and  the  superfluities  of  their  bishops 
and  clergy,  the  people  would  have  been  better  instructed, 
than  they  now  have  been,  and  have  been  found  better  sup- 
porters of  civil  government. 

Whenever  arid  wherever  the  people  have  been  truly  in- 
structed in  the  doctrines,  and  duties,  of  the  Holy  scriptures, 
to  read  them  daily,  and  understandingly,  there  has  been  no 
reason  to  fear  that  such,  would  be  bad  members  of  good 
society.  It  is  in  places  where  the  scriptures  are  neglected, 
or  concealed,  or  erroneously  taught,  that  the  people  have 
become,  or  continued,  ignorant,  barbarous  and  troublesome 
to  the  state,  and  to  one  another.  Yet,  some  of  these  high 
church  folks,  and  even  papists  have  urged,  that  heresies 
would  overflow  the  land,  were  there  no  church  authority, 
nor  spiritual  courts.  But  from  a  want  of  this  church  au- 
thority, and  these  spiritual  courts,  1  can  see  no  danger ; — 
but  from  the  ignorance  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  which 
is  an  inseparable  attendant  of  church  authority,  and  such 
spiritual  courts.  There  appears  to  me,  to  be  no  better 
method  for  preventing  heresy,  than  ably  and  faithfully 
teaching  the  truth — and  we  can  find  it  nowhere  better 
taught,  than  in  the  Bible.  And  suppose  the  church  of  Eng- 
land had  as  much  power,  as  their  bishops  desire;  what  ef- 
fect could  it  have  upon  the  consciences  of  men,  unless  they 
were  first  convinced  by  evidence  from  the  Bible  ?  and  then, 
there  would  be  no  occasion  for  any  other  power. 

It  appears  indeed,  from  church  history,  that  there  never 
were  so  many  heresies,  till  bishops  or  false  prophet's  pre- 
tended they  had  power  to  expel  them,  or  to  bind  the  con- 
sciences of  the  people,  by  calling  in  the  aid  of  the  secular 


94  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

arm,  to  awe  them  to  a  submission  to  their  impositions. 
The  Apostles,  by  authority  from  the  Holy  Ghost,  gave  or- 
ders to  reject  heretics ;  but  such,  were  open  teachers  and 
advocates  of  other  doctrines  than  were  taught  by  the  Bible ; 
these  heretics  were  like  the  modern  advocates  of  secular 
power,  or  deniers  of  the  truth,  as  taught  by  the  scriptures ; 
and  all  ought  to  admit  that  such  should  not  be  permitted  to 
commune,  on  religious  subjects,  with  true  believers.  But 
the  Apostles  did  not  direct  that  even  such,  should  be  fined, 
or  persecuted,  or  slain.  They  left  them  in  possession  of  all 
their  civil  rights  as  men,  and  citizens;  and  only  denied 
them  Christian  communion.  And  they  have  never  told  us, 
that  it  ever  will  be  right,  even  when  magistrates  happen  to 
be* called  Christians,  to  call  upon  their  aid,  through  the  use 
of  the  secular  arm,  to  help  us  persecute  them;  but  teach 
us,  definitely,  that  we  must  laave  them  to  the  judgment  of 
the  Great  Day.  It  is  true,  the  Apostles  used  a  method  of 
preventing  and  taking  off  heresy,  which  after  times  have 
frequently  deemed  insufficient.  They  prevented  it  by  fur- 
nishing all  the  evidence  they  could,  to  persuade  the  people 
of  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  and  when  they  would  not 
listen  to  it,  but  opposed  themselves,  they  left  them  not  to 
the  secular  power,  but  the  judgment  of  the  Almighty.  In 
a  word,  when  any  become  heretics,  by  departing  from  the 
truth,  and  openly  advocating  error ;  they  withdrew  Chris- 
tian fellowship ;  but  never  persecuted  them,  nor  desired 
others  to  do  it. 

To  teach  men  faithfully,  out  of  the  scriptures,  and  then 
permit  them  to  judge  for  themselves,  is  all  that  any  teacher 
of  Christianity  can  or  ought  to  do  in  this  matter.  Experi- 
ence, may  teach  the  world,  that  Christians  can  never  be  ed- 
efied,  but  where  they  choose  their  own  teachers.  And 
such  as  they  employ  for  this  purpose,  they  should  pay, 
themselves ;  and  where  the  people  really  and  freely  do  this, 
it  will  be  found  that  they  have  no  need  of  any  alliance 
with  the  state,  or  authority  from  a  bishop,  for  the  support 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  95 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

of  religion;  nor,  in  such  cases,  has  ever  the  government 
found  any  loss  from  a  want  of  instruction  among  such  sub- 
jects. Where  Christian  doctrines  are  ably  taught,  in  their 
simplicity  and  beauty,  there,  it  may  be  said,  with  empha- 
sis, every  soul  is,  for  conscience's  sake,  subject  to  the  higher 
powers  ;  but  this  is  never  seen,  nor  known,  where  teachers 
are  above  their  business,  and  neglect,  or  are  incompetent  to 
instruct  the  people  in  the  knowledge  of  the  scriptures. 

If  this  alliance  has  ever  been  useful  to  mankind,  the  case 
is  yet  unknown  —  at  this  moment,  there  is  not  as  little 
knowledge,  among  any  protestants  on  earth,  as  there  is 
among  the  common  people  of  England.  Multitudes  can- 
not read  the  scriptures,  nor  have  they  the  least  understand- 
ing about  christain  doctrines,  any  further  than  to  know 
a  church  from  some  other  building;  and  many  would  not 
know  that.  And  it  is  stated  on  good  authority,  that  twenty 
to  one,  of  any  other  protestants,  are  to  be  reckoned  members 
of  the  church  of  England.  And  how  could  it  be  otherwise? 
where  their  teachers,  such  as  they  are  many  of  them,  horse 
jockeys,  gamblers,  debauchees,  and  real  wine-bibbers  — 
having  three  or  four  livings;  and  where  they  hire  the 
cheapest  possible,  as  a  substitute,  to  take  the  care  of  souls  ? 
Were  the  people  regularly  taught  the  scriptures,  and  led  to 
read  them  thoroughly,  they  would  receive  some  edification; 
but  except  some  lessons,  here  and  there,  these  children  of 
the  flocks  of  churchmen,  never  hear  any  thing  about  them. 
Instead  of  sound  and  edifying  teachings  and  expositions  of 
portions  of  the  scriptures,  showing  the  people  the  interest 
they  have  in  obeying  the  truth,  the  teachers,  generally, 
please  themselves,  with  harangues,  which  they  call  ser- 
mons, but  which,  for  the  most  part,  have  no  relation  to  true 
gospel  discourses.  • 

It  may  perhaps  be  inferred  from  the  preceding  remarks, 
that  we  think  that  the  constitution  of  church  and  state,  in 
Eugland,  ought  to  be  altogether  overthrown.  But,  to  cor- 
rect such  an  inference,  we  here  state,  freely,  that  if  the  es- 


96  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

tablished  church  of  England,  be  actually  a  part  of  the  civil 
constitution,  we  would  find  no  fault  with  her ;  but  admit 
that  she  is  as  good  as  any  other  of  the  kind,  and  could  not 
give  place  to  another.  But  then  we  would  not  have  her 
pretend  to  be  what  she  is  not  —  a  New  Testament  church. 
She  may  be  a  salutary  engine  for  political  government,  and 
serve  the  same  purpose  to  the  state,  that  any  political  church 
ever  did  ;  and  we  have  no  doubt  but  archbishops  and  bish- 
ops, and  their  clergy,  are  as  useful  to  the  English  govern- 
ment, as  the  Roman  Pontifex  Maximus,  with  all  the  tribe 
of  his  clergy  were  to  the  Romans.  Yet,  the  Christian  re- 
ligion is,  in  our  view,  as  much  concerned  with  the  one  as 
the  other. 

As  the  Apostles,  and  our  Lord,  never  found  any  fault 
with  the  civil  government  of  Rome,  nor  interfered  with  the 
state  religion,  farther  than  telling  such  as  were  pleased  to 
hear  them,  that  it  was  idolatry;  nor  gave  themselves  any 
trouble  concerning  it,  except  when  the  civil  power  wanted 
them  to  comply  with  their  worship  which  they  never 
would  do ; —  so  the  followers  of  the  Apostles,  ought  to  im- 
itate them,  and  suffer  the  state  to  have  what  religion  it 
pleaseth  ;  providing  that  it  does  not  impose  it,  upon  them. 
There  is  no  warrant  in  the  New  Testament,  for  any  party 
to  impose  their  religion,  upon  another.  But  when  they  are 
called  to  give  their  reasons  for  their  non-conformity,  chris- 
tians  have  no  cause  to  be  ashamed  or  afraid  to  do  it. 

When  any  establishment  makes  laws  to  compel  noncon- 
formists to  comply  with  the  political  religion,  upon  the  pain 
of  loss  or  suffering,  as  in  the  recent  case,  in  Great  Britain,* 
it  is  a  plain  evidence  that  the  establishment  is  not  a  New 
Testament  church;  for,  in  the  Christian  religion,  there  is  no 
compulsion.  If  the  present  national  religion  be  essential  to 

*When,  as  is  well  known,  only  two  years  since,  over  six  hundred  of  the 
most  able  advocates  of  the  doctrines  of  the  faith,  ever  known  in  England, 
were  driven  from  their  churches  by  act  of  Parliament,  and  prohibited  from 
meeting  or  teaching  their  people,  any  where  between  the  suit  sea  and  dry 
land  of  their  God  accursed  island. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  97 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

the  existence  of  the  civil  government,  in  England,  it  seems 
abundantly  evident  that  none  should  be  admitted  to  any 
share  in  the  government,  but  such  as  are  of  that  commun- 
ion ;  but  then,  they  ought  not  to  be  called  by  authority,  to 
exercise  any  office  under  it,  when  their  consciences  will  not 
allow  them  to  comply  with  those  things  which  are  requisite 
to  qualify  them.  Churches  established  by  human  law,  are 
not  even  satisfied  with  enjoying  all  the  profits  of  their  set- 
tlement ;  unless  they  can  bring  other  people  to  defile  their 
consciences,  by  endeavoring  to  compel  them  to  do  what  they 
believe  to  be  sinful.  Hence,  all  the  seceders  there,  have 
only  done  their  duty. 

It  is  supposing  non-conformists  to  be  worse  than  asses, 
to  endeavor  to  compel  them  to  serve  in  offices,  both  civil 
and  religious,  where  they  must  first  join  in  a  service  to 
God,  against  which  their  consciences  are  known  to  be  op- 
posed. When  men  are  allowed  their  own  method  in  wor- 
shipping God,  and  are  not  compelled  to  anything  against 
their  consciences,  they  have  no  reason  to  find  fault  with 
the  established  religion.  But  when  such  Christians  are 
compelled  to  support  it,  by  their  means,  and  forced  to  com- 
ply with  its  rituals,  or  suffer  losses,  they  clearly  have 
reason  to  complain  of  want  of  Christian  liberty. 

Intelligent  leaders  in  the  obnoxious  establishment,  and 
all  other  correct  reasoners,  must  certainly  account  those 
disssenters,  infidels;  who  consent  to  a  mode  of  worship 
which  has  no  authority  in  the  Word  of  God. 

If  the  alliance  between  church  and  state,  make  it  lawful 
for  the  church  to  impose  principles  and  worship  upon  dis- 
senters ;  upon  the  same  principle,  it  will  be  lawful  for  any 
church  whatever,  to  oblige  all  dissenters  to  comply ;  or  pun- 
ish them  less  or  more  for  any  resistance.  If  this  be  a  good 
principle,  the  protestants  in  no  region  of  country,  have  any 
reason  to  complain  of  Roman  Catholic  imposition;  when  a 
church  of  their  own  persuasion,  does  the  same  thing. 

There  always  have  been,  many  simple,  slavish  asses, 
7 


98  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

among  dissenters,  in  by  gone  days,  as  well  among  those 
who  dissent  from  the  new  school  fooleries  and  blasphemies 
of  the  present  day,  as  among  the  puritans  ;  who  can  with- 
out any  hesitation,  conform  to  the  popular  establishment, 
and  take  on  their  burdens,  for  merely  some  small  worldly 
advantage  —  or  to  please  their  friends,  &c.  &c.,  and  thus, 
most  profanely  tamper  with  their  consciences,  in  the  sight 
of  both  God  and  men  !     Some,  of  high  church  party,  your 
Peuseyites,  your  Onderdonks,  and  your  Doanes,  who  are 
considered  nearest  to  the  top  of  the  fashion ;  are  coming, 
every  day  nearer  to  the  delicious  embrace  of  their  old  moth- 
er, though  they  have  so  often  themselves  said,  that  she  had 
played   the  harlot;  and  hundreds,  and   thousands,  even 
among  protestants,  already  seem,  to  have  little  other  objec- 
tion against  her,  than  that  she  herself,  is  not  yet  far  enough 
departed  from  the  truth.     From  some  aversion   they  have 
concieved  at  the  present  articles  and  creeds  of  their  estab- 
lishment, on  account  of  their  admitted  likeness  to  the  scrip- 
tures, they  rave  against  them;  but  evidently,  from  no  other 
principle,  but  their  enmity  to  the  New  Testament;  which 
through  some  unfortunate  mistake,  they  concieve  them  to 
resemble.     All  these  noble  spirits,  however,  have  still  a 
stout  inclination  to  go  to  heaven,   within  the  trammels  and 
trappings  of  a  liturgy ;  and  make  the  most  zealous  efforts 
to  have  as  gorgeous  and  wanton  a  way,  to  worship  their 
maker,   as  they  can  possibly  contrive.     Most  of  the  new 
school  perfectionists,  from  the  most  philosophical  Truairs 
and  Finney,  down  to  the  blind  authors  of  their  delusions, 
the  Taylors — the  Beechers,  the  Barnes,  and  the  Camp- 
bells, one  might  suppose,  have  become  such  refined  and 
sublimated  protestants.  that  they  seern  to  think  the  Almigh- 
ty should  be  worshipped  in  the  Jewish  pontificial  style ;  and 
that  the  New  Testament  church  should  be  confined  to  the 
old.    And  perhaps,  we  shall  find  them,  after  some  little 
further  consultations,  agree  to  introduce  for  the  gratification 
of  the  curious,  females  as  well  as  males,  who  occupy  their 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  99 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

"anxious  seats,"  the  entertaining  right  of  circumcision. 
Yes,  nothing  is  more  likely,  under  the  fury  of  the  present 
intellectual  intoxication,  than  that  many,  among  protest- 
ants  of  all  denominations,  would  be  found  to  be  asses,  of 
such  meanness,  as  to  submit  to  all  this. 

If  the  civil  powers,  would  be  so  condescending  as  to 
make  a  law  for  circumcission,  and  annex  emoluments  to  it, 
these  cidevant  bishops,  and  perfectionists  prophets,  we  verily 
believe,  would  do  their  best,  in  training  asses,  to  submit  to 
the  degradation.  But,  as  the  pain  connected  with  such  an 
entertainment,  would  most  likely  be  more  than  a  counter- 
part to  the  pleasureand  profit;  and  as  these  prophets  them- 
selves, could  not  decently  neglect  to  observe  a  religious  or- 
dinance established  by  law;  it  is  possible,  that  this  piece  of 
improvement,  and  perfectionism,  may  remain  unattempted, 
among  the  rest  of  those  things,  which  the  people  are  not 
yet  ripe  for. 

I  shall  conclude  with  observing,  that  there  is  scarce  a 
man  who  may  assume  the  character  of  a  prophet,  though 
as  illiterate  and  ignorant,  as  Madam  Folsom,  Joe.  Smith 
or  Miller,  but  will  find  plenty  of  asses,  among  the  people, 
even  in  this  American  Republic,  to  answer  his  purpose. 
Though  Balaam,  and  his  ass  are  dead,  many  ages  ago;  yet 
their  offspring  are  still  very  numerous.  But  who  would 
think,  that  any  of  this  character,  could  be  found  in  these 
United  States,  which  have  become  the  toast  of  the  nations, 
for  pretentions  to  intelligence,  independence  and  civil  and 
religious  liberty  1  Yet  true  it  is,  that  there  are  diverse,  al- 
most innumerable  (alse  prophets,  religious  as  well  as  civil, 
loco  focos,  in  this  enlightened  nation  ;  all  of  whom,  have 
their  full  complement  of  asses. 

Even  here,  we  find  slaves  in  abundance  —  here  we  find 
hundreds,  who  through  indolence  and  sloth,  are  bearing 
heavy  burdens  —  here,  we  find  many  who  style  themselves 
free-thinkers,  under  the  burden  of  a  guilty  conscience  — 
here,  you  may  find  the  loco  focos,  of  the  church,  and  the 


100          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONDS. 

loco  focos  of  the  state,  leading  their  asses,  which  they  have 
fitted  for  mounting,  whenever  they  please.  And  how  se- 
verely soever,  they  are  at  times,  treated  by  their  Balaam- 
like  masters,  they  still,  tamely  and  submissively,  turn  and 
say,  are  not  we  your  asses,  upon  which  you  have  ridden,  ever 
since  we  were  yours  ? 
If  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  LET  HIM  HEAR. 


SEKMON    V. 


ROMANS  XV— 4. 

FOR  WHATSOEVER  THINGS  WERE  WRITTEN  AFORETIME,  WERE 
WRITTEN  FOR  OUR  LEARNING,  THAT  WE,  THROUGH  PATIENCE 
AND  COMFORT  OF  THE  SCRIPTURES,  MIGHT  HAVE  HOPE. 

CHRISTIAN  READER — Nothing  can  be  more  evident  in 
the  first  place,  than  that  the  Holy  Ghost,  through  his 
Apostle,  has,'  here,  without  reserve  or  limitation, 
applied  the  whole  of  the  doctrinal,  historical  and  pro- 
phetical parts  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures,  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  Gospel  "of  his  salvation. 

And  we  have  selected  this  text,  with  a  view  to  bring  be- 
fore the  public,  certain  distinguished  charactes  in  both 
church  and  state,  whom  we  did  not  honor  in  our  dedica- 
tion, to  wit :  such  as  have  shown  themselves  to  be  follow- 
ers of  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Tom  Paine,  with  respect  to 
both  religion  and  geology.  We  shall  confine  our  remarks 
and  illustrations,  to  the  history  of  the  antediluvian  or  pri- 
meval state  of  men,  including  the  history  of  the  deluge, 
with  the  view  to  establish  the  testimony  of  Moses,  against 
this  ungodly  class  of  men. 

The  term  antediluvian,  you  know,  has  been  universally 
employed  to'denote  anything  that  happened  or  existed,  be- 
fore the  general  deluge.  But  we  are  compelled  to  admit, 


102          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

in.  the  commencement  of  our  lecture,  that  the  records  of 
the  antediluvian  world  are  extremely  brief;  yet  they  con- 
tain many  important  and  perfectly  creditable  intimations 
respecting  the  religion,  the  arts,  and  the  policy  of  the  pri- 
mal race  of  men.  The  creation  of  the  world;  and  of  its 
various  inhabitants  and  productions;  the  rapid  and  exces- 
sive corruption  of  the  entire  human  race,  till  God  destroyed 
them  all  by  a  reduction  of  the  earth  to  a  state  of  primeval 
chaos,  are  all  recorded  in  six  short  chapters,  in  the  fore  part 
of  the  book  of  Genesis:  and  this  is  the  only  authentic  record 
of  the  history  of  the  world,  for  upwards  of  sixteen  hundred 
years  !  But  this  period  was  fertile,  no  doubt,  in  incidents 
and  inventions,  and  important  to  the  historian,  as  exhibiting 
the  gradual  development  of  the  human  character  ;  together 
with  the  origin  and  increase  of  those  arts  which  contrib- 
ute to  the  comforts  and  elegancies  of  life.  And  it  would 
be  highly  interesting  to  show  the  progress  of  only  the  use- 
ful and  ornamental  arts,  which  we  know,  with  certainty, 
existed  in  the  antediluvian  world;  and  which,  were,  in 
all  probability,  transmitted  to  the  post-diluvian  ages,  as 
the  basis  of  future  improvements.  It  would  be  no  less  in- 
teresting, to  explore  the  cause  of  that  corruption,  which, 
at  last,  became  so  general,  and  which  produced  such  dis- 
astrous consequences !  We  have  the  stroagest  reasons  to 
believe,  that  a  high  degree  of  refinement  in  luxury,  accom- 
panied this  universal  and  awful  corruption ;  as  great  na- 
tional depravity  has  never  been  seen,  when  not  preceded 
by  refinement,  and  attended  by  corruption.  Our  informa- 
tion, however,  with  respect  to  these  exciting  topics,  is  ex- 
tremely limited,  and  must  be  taken  from  the  few  incidental 
intimatious  furnished  by  sacred  history.  These  intima- 
tions, however,  are  exceedingly  valuable ;  and,  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  a  review  of  them,  will  lead  us  to  some  important 
and  happy  results,  as  to  our  views  respecting  the  Religion, 
Arts,  Government,  and  Manners,  of  the  antediluvian  world. 
Each  of  these  particulars,  will  be  made  the  subject  of  our 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  103 

TO   DIVERSE,    NOTABLE   FOOLS    AND   ASSES. 

present  observations ;  after  which,  however,  we  shall  notice 
some  remarkable  circumstances  which  occur  in  the  scrip- 
ture account  of  that  period;  but  which  cannot  properly  be 
comprehended  under  any  of  the  above  heads ;  and,  in  con- 
clusion, we  shall  examine  how  far  the  Mosaic  accounts  re- 
specting that  period,  are  confirmed  by  other  sources  of  in- 
formation. 

And  with  respect  to  the  Religion  of  the  antediluvians, 
as  the  Bible  is  chiefly  the  history  of  it,  we  have  a  fuller 
account  of  this,  than  of  any  other  circumstance  connected 
with  their  history.  Although  they  had  neither  written 
laws,  nor  a  written  revelation,  yet  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
that  their  religion  was  communicated  to  them  from  heaven, 
as  really  and  emphatically,  as  the  religion  either  of  Jews 
or  Christians.  For  the  "Almighty  God,  " — the  "  I  Am 
that  I  Am"  and  "Jehovah,"  by  either  and  each  of  which 
terms,  the  Sovereign  of  the  universe  chose  to  make  his 
Godhead  known  to  the  antediluvians,  actually  conversed 
with  our  first  parents;  made  known  to  them  his  will;  de- 
finitely informed  them  how  they  must  worship  him ;  and 
emphatically  appointed  certain  institutions,  as  auxiliaries 
to  their  faith,  and  memorials  of  their  duty.  The  most 
prominent  and  remarkable  of  those  institutions  were,  the 
Sabbath,  and  Sacrifices.  The  former  of  these,  was  ap- 
pointed directly  on  finishing  the  work  of  creation,  and  was 
designed  to  serve  as  a  memorial  of  the  wisdom,  and  good- 
ness, and  power  of  God,  till  the  end  of  the  world.  It  is  a 
strange  mistake,  and  in  our  view,  absolutely  absurd,  to  sup- 
pose, with  Spencer,  and  many  other  infidel  and  petulent 
scriblers,  that  the  Sabbath  was  merely  a  Jewish  rite,  when 
it  is  as  evident,  as  the  voice,  and  language,  and  majesty  of 
the  infinite  God  could  make  it,  that  it  was  ordained  for  all 
mankind  from  the  beginning  of  the  world! 

The  septennary  division  of  Time,  which  obtained  amongst 
nations,  who  were  entire  strangers  to  the  Jewish  ritual,  af- 


104         "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

fords  conclusive  evidence,  that  they  derived  their  practice 
from  an  entirely  different  source,  than  that  of  the  authority 
of  God.  In  fact,  the  injunction  given  to  the  Israelites  at 
Sinai,  to  observe  the  Sabbath,  was  not  imparted  as  any 
new  Institution,  but  was  founded  on  a  well  known  primi- 
tive use.  "In  six  days,  the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth," 
&c. ;  "  wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  Sabbath  day,  and 
hallowed  it."  Here  we  perceive  the  meaning  of  the  word 
day,  as  used  by  God  in  his  account  of  the  work  of  creation. 
The  first  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  in  God  Al- 
mighty's universe,  he  emphatically  denominated  a  day. 
The  second  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  the  second 
day.  The  third  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  the  third 
day.  The  fourth  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  the 
fourth  day.  The  fifth  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  the 
fifth  day.  The  sixth  revolution  of  light  and  darkness,  the 
sixth  day.  And  having  here  finished  his  work,  he  ordained 
and  declared  the  seventh  revolution  of  light  and  darkness 
—  should  be  known  as  the  seventh  day  —  the  Sabbath  — 
on  which  he  rested  —  saying  himself,  he  rested  on  the 
seventh  day,  and  sanctified  it.  In  prophetic  style,  the 
meaning  of  the  word  day,  is  always  uncertain.  Thus  much 
for  the  meaning  of  the  term  "  day,"  as  used  by  God  in  his 
revelation  to  mankind. 

•  9 

But,  as  to  the  origin  of  Sacrifices,  our  information  is  not 
so  precise,  and  definite ; — it  is,  however,  sufficiently  clear, 
to  authorize  us  to  affirm,  that  they  were  early  observed,  and 
that  their  observance  was  by  Divine  appointment.  It  never 
has  been  doubted,  amongst  intelligent  orthodox  Christians, 
that  in  the  promise,  that  "  the  seed  of  the  woman  should 
bruise  th'e  head  of  the  serpent,"  an  intimation  was  distinct- 
ly conveyed  1o  Adam,  that  the  human  race  should  be  de- 
livered by  the  Messiah ;  indeed,  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  our  first  parents,  and  their  offspring,  believed,  and  so 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          105 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

understood  this  promise.  We  are  told  in  Heb.  XI.,  that 
Abel,  Enoch,  and  Noah,  and  we  must  suppose  all  the  righ- 
teous antediluvian  patriarchs,  died  in  "this  faith,  not  hav- 
ing received  the  promises,  but  having  seen  them  afar  off" 
In  this  view,  Christianity  may  justly  be  said  to  be  nearly  as 
old  as  the  creation;  as  it  was  undoubtedly  revealed  to  the 
first  race  of  men;  whose  faith  only  differed  from  ours,  by 
being  placed  in  anticipation,  whilst  ours  is  in  retrospection, 
viz :  they  looked  forward  in  hope  of  what  the  Messiah  was 
to  accomplish,  and  we  look  backward  in  faith  of  what  he 
has  actually  done.  It  is  most  probable,  that  together  with 
the  promise  made  to  our  first  parents,  sacrifices  were  then 
instituted,  to  give  them  a  more  striking  and  clear  concep- 
tion of  the  hope  set  before  them.  It  is  of  no  consequence, 
that  the  institution,  at  that  time,  was  not  stated  expressly; 
for  there  are  the  strongest  facts,  which  sufficiently  demon- 
strate its  origin.  But  it  has  been  blasphemously  supposed 
by  some  that  sacrifices,  are  merely  a  natural  expression  of 
piety  and  gratitude  to  the  creator,  and  that  shedding 
the  blood  of  animals,  indicated  a  conviction,  on  the 
part  of  the  offerer,  that  his  sins  needed  expiation.  The 
first  sacrifices,  however,  of  which  we  have  any  record, 
were  offered  under  very  different  circumstances.  The  wick- 
ed Cain,  who  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  been  induced  by 
sentiments  of  piety,  is  the  first  who  is  mentioned,  as  mak- 
ing an  offering  to  the  Lord ;  and  that  not  an  expiatory  sac- 
rifice, as  might  have  been  expected,  (if  any  could  be  ex- 
pected from  a  sinner)  but,  "  the  fruits  of  the  ground."  His 
righteous  brother,  on  the  other  hand,  offered  a  bloody  sacri- 
fice, which  being  offered  in  faith,  was  acceptable  to  God. 
Heb.  XL  4.  Now  the  only  legitimate  inference,  that  any 
unprejudiced  intelligent  reader  can  draw  from  this  is,  that 
both  the  brothers  offered,  not  from  the  dictates  of  reason  OB. 
the  impulse  of  natural  feeling,  but  in  consequence  of  a  well 
known  Divine  commandment — else  we  must  allow  Cain 
to  have  the  honor  of  the  invention  of  the  institution !  But 


106          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

further;  it  is  also  clear,  that  the  antediluvians  had  duly  ap- 
pointed places  of  public,  social  worship ;  and  that  there  was 
some  spot,  where  the  Almighty  particularly  manifested  his 
presence  —  for  we  find  Cain  chiefly  complaining,  that,  in 
consequence  of  his  punishment,  "he  should  be  hid,  or  shut 
out,  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord" — which  is  scarcely 
intelligible,  unless  there  was  some  place,  where  the  Sheki- 
nah,  or  glory  of  Divine  presence,  particularly  dwelt  among 
them  on  that  day,  every  seventh  day,  that  being  the  pro- 
portion of  time  which  God  has  ordained  to  be  observed  by 
all  nations,  to  the  end  of  time.  In  order  to  relieve  his  ap- 
prehensions of  danger,  on  account  of  this  removal  from  the 
"Divine  presence,"  God,  we  are  told,  "seta  mark  upon 
him,"  or,  as  it  should  be  translated,  "gave  him  a  token, 
that  no  man  might  kill  him."  This  is  implied  in  the  Septu- 
agint  translation,  as  admitted  by  all.  As  the  first  race  of 
men,  therefore,  were  thus  immediately  instructed  by  God, 
there  cannot  remain  a  doubt,  but  that  they  were  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state  of  existence,  and 
of  rewards  and  punishments.  Thus  much  for  sacrifices. 

But  alas  !  we  find  in  these  modern  days,  Warburton  and 
others  in  Great  Britain  and  Europe ;  and  our  cidevant  the- 
ologians, of  the  present  day,  and  their  pert  imitators,  enter- 
tain notions  on  this  subject,  which  have  recieved  the  well 
merited  scoffs,  of  every  intelligent,  open  Deist,  in  the  land 
who  has  paid  attention  to  their  theories ;  as  they  are  utterly 
without  any  thing  like  a  rational  foundation.  But,  it  is  true, 
Abel  was  no  sooner  accepted  of  God,  than  he  was  slain ! 
Are  we  then  to  suppose,  that  the  antediluvians  were  left  to 
believe  that  murder  and  annihilation,  were  the  rewards  of 
acceptance  with  God?  It  is  impossible — "God  forbid; "  the 
•supposition  and  the  inference  are  absurb !  On  the  contrary, 
they  must  have  been  convinced,  tfiat  since  Abel  was  ac- 
cepted, he  was  rewarded ;  and  that  could  only  be  in  another 
world.  Besides,  it  is  said,  that  Enoch  walked  with  God, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          107 

TO  DIVERSE    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 


and  was  not,  for  God  took  him  ;  "  which  can  be  only  un- 
derstood according  to  the  Apostle's  interpretation,  that,  "he 
was  translated,  that  he  should  not  see  death."  Now,  if  his 
contemporaries  knew  that  he  did  not  die,  as  it  appears  from 
the  history  that  they  certainly  did;  what  were  they  to  sup- 
pose had  become  of  him  !  The  only  rational  answer  here 
is,  they  believed  that  "God  had  taken  him  to  another  world 
to  live  forever!"  But,  some  of  our  cidevant  theologians, 
referred  to  above,  say  "it  is  incredible  that  Adam  understood 
the  threatning  against  eating  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge 
of  good  and  evil,  as  intimating  any  thing  more  than  tem- 
poral death  !  "  How  did  he  obtain  any  idea  then  of  im- 
mortal life?  His  children  all  possessed  and  cherished  it. 
But  if  they  had  no  idea  of  eternal  death,  the  whole  story  of 
the  Bible  from  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  to  last  of  Rev- 
elations is  an  atrocious  fraud  and  falsehood  !  Thus  much 
for  the  antediluvian  knowledge  of  the  mode  of  worship  ap- 
pointed by  God,  in  the  observance  of  which,  his  creatures 
would  become  acceptable  to  him. 

With  respect  to  the  antediluvian  Arts,  though  interesting, 
must  be  speedily  discussed,  for  want  of  materials  of  authen- 
tic information. 

The  first  city,  however,  we  know,  was  founded  by  Cain  ; 
but  as  to  its  size,  or  architecture,  the  sacred  historian  is  en- 
tirely silent.  From  the  state  of  society,  it  is  probable  that  it 
was  at  first,  of  comparatively  small  dimensions;  and  if,  as 
new-schoolmen  suppose,  men  were  at  that  time  ignorant  of 
the  use  of  iron  and  brass,  the  work  must  have  been  rudely 
executed.  It  is,  however,  said  in  the  Scriptures,  that  "  Tu- 
bal-Cain,"  from  which  the  word  Vulcan  is  supposed  to  be 
derived,  "the  seventh  in  descent  from  Adam,  was  the  in- 
structor of  every  artificer  in  brass  and  iron."  It  may,  there- 
fore, be  doubted,  you  see,  whether  this  implies  that  they 
were  entirely  ignorant  of  theSe  arts  before.  Jabal,  and 
Jubal,  the  brothers  of  Tubal-Cain,  by  the  same  father. 


108          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OE    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

though  from  different  mothers,  their  father,  Lamach,  being 
the  first  polygamist,  were  also  eminent  for  their  proficiency 
in  the  useful  and  ornamental  arts.  The  former  was  the 
father  of  all  such  as  dwelt  in  tents,  and  had  cattle ;  the  latter, 
of  all  such  as  handle  the  harp  and  organ.  Nor,  if  we 
may  believe  the  Jews,  were  the  arts  confined  to  the  line  of 
Cain.  The  descendants  of  Seth,  we  are  told,  were  emi- 
nently skilled  in  astronomy;  and  Josephus  asserts,  that 
there  were  stone  pillars  erected  by  the  children  of  Seth,  and 
covered  with  astronomical  inscriptions,  to  be  seen  in  his 
time,  in  the  land  of  Siriad.  The  infidels  have  made  much 
profane  merriment  over  this  fact  stated  by  Josephus;  we 
freely  leave  them  to  their  sportings  and  self-deceivings,  till 
the  scene  of  the  last  day.  We  have  a  surer  proof  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  arts,  in  the  line  of  Seth,  in  the  construction  of  the 
ark,  which  saw  built  by  Noah.  It  is  probable,  and  we  think 
very  probable,  too,  that  it  would  baffle  the  skill  of  modern 
artists,  to  construct  such  a  vessel ;  and  though  it  may,  with 
propriety,  be  alleged  that  Noah  had  little  merit  in  the  project 
or  execution  of  it;  as  the  ark  was  built  according  to  the  ac- 
knowledged directions  from  the  Almighty ;  yet,  these  direc- 
tions apply  merely  to  the  dimensions,  which  it  was  impossi- 
ble for  Noah  to  have  known,  without  Divine  revelation.  As 
to  the  construction  of  the  vessel  itself,  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  this  was  left  to  his  own  ingenuity  and  skill.  It 
is  absurd  to  suppose,  with  bishop  Newton,  though  he  loved 
a  good  dinner,  as  well  as  an  alderman,  that  they  were 
unacquainted  with  the  use  of  letters. 

We  are  informed  by  St.  Jude,  that  Enoch  delivered  proph- 
ecies ;  which,  from  what  we  know,  it  is  most  reasonable  to 
suppose,  were  committed  to  writing.  At  any  rate,  we  have 
not  yet  heard  of  any  society,  which  had  made  such  pro- 
gress in  the  arts,  as  the  antediluvians  certainly  did,  without 
being  acquainted  with  the  use  of  letters.  The  argument 
will  be  so  much  the  stronger,  if  we  suppose  alphabetic  char- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          109 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

acters  of  any  kind,  to  be  by  Divine  revelation;  which,  as 
God  has  declared,  in  a  certain  place,  the  writing  was  his 
it  cannot  be  presumption  to  admit,  that  they  had  a  knowl- 
edge of  language. 

Again  —  as  to  the  Government  of  the  antediluvians,  this 
was  manifestly,  patriarchal.  To  use  the  words  of  a  truly 
learned  prelate,  Newton,  the  father  of  a  family,  by  divine 
constitution,  became  the  prince  and  governor  of  it;  but  it  is 
absurd  to  infer  from  hence  that  absolute  dominion,  which 
Filmer  and  Lesly,  have  so  strenuously  asserted;  but  which 
Locke  and  Hoadly,  have  so  amply  refuted.  In  all  probabil- 
ity, there  were  two,  great  governments ;  one  in  the  line  of 
Seth,  and  the  other  in  the  line  of  Cain;  which  was  after- 
wards, divided  and  subdivided  into  several  branches,  as  man- 
kind grew  more  numerous  and  nations  were  more  multiplied 
and  diffused  over  the  face  of  the  earth.  In  the  days  when 
the  doctrines  of  passive  obedience,  and  the  divine,  indefensi- 
ble right  of  kings,  were  in  vogue,  in  Great  Britain  and  Eu- 
rope, Sir  Robert  Filmer,  the  first,  just  now  mentioned,  wrote 
a  treatise  entitled  "  Patriarcha  " ;  in  order  to  prove  that  ab- 
solute monarchy  was  the  only  kind  of  government,  coun- 
tenanced by  the  Almighty  God !  And  this,  he  endeavoured 
to  find  in  the  grant  of  dominion  which  God  gave  to  Adam. 
And  this  doctrine  became  so  fashionable,  at  that  time,  for 
a  while,  among  high  churchmen,  and  courtiers,  that  the 
pretended,  antediluvian  form  of  government  had  almost 
overturned  the  English  constitution.  Had  not  Mr.  Locke 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  take  up  his  pen,  and  come  fotward  in 
its  defence,  and  effectually,  put  a  stop  to  the  furious  torrent 
of  absurdity,  and  national  self-mockery  ;  even  the  consti- 
tution of  England,  would  have  been  about  as  wisely,  "  ex- 
punged," as  were  lately,  some  of  the  most  honorable  parts 
of  the  records  of  the  august  senate  of  the  United  States.* 

We  refer  here,  to  the  "expunging"  sentence  respecting  Jackson's  des- 
truction of  the  National  Bank. 


110          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

One  of  this  sapient  Sir  Robert's  proofs,  was,  the  absolute 
dominion  given  to  Adam  over  Eve,  'and  her  posterity, 
which  he  contends,  was  intimated  in  that  part  of  the  sen- 
tence pronounced  against  the  woman,  "  Thy  desire  shall  be 
to  thy  husband,  and  he  shall  rule  over  thee."  To  which 
Mr.  Locke  shrewdly  replies,  that  such  was  not  a  time 
when  Adam  could  expect  grants  and  privileges  ;  and  that 
God  then,  rather  put  a  spade  into  his  hands,  to  subdue  and 
til  the  earth,  than  a  sceptre,  to  rule  over  its  inhabitants. 

Pardon  this  digression.  We  come  next  to  the  Manners 
if  the  antediluvians,  and  we  now  proceed  to  take  a  brief  no- 
tice of  them.  Even  according  to  the  orthodox  poet,  the  first 
step  in  the  progress  of  civilization  is,  "  Connubio  prohibere 
vago,  dare  jure  maritis"  The  propriety  of  the  maxim  is 
apparent  —  and  it  evidently  rests  on  higher  authority  than 
mere  opinion ;  for  the  first  civil  institution,  which  God  ap- 
pointed to  man,  was  the  ordinance  of  marriage,  restricted  to 
one  man  and  one  woman,  by  the  original  proportion  between 
the  sexes.  We  know,  however,  it  was  not  long  before 
this  wholesome  restriction  was  violated,  and  polygamy 
introduced,  by  the  example  of  Lamech.  A  regulation  on 
expediency,  and  obviously  conducive  to  the  welfare  and 
highest  interests  of  society,  viz :  the  prohibited  degrees  Of 
consanguinity  in  marriage,  must  have  been-  unknown  in 
the  first  age  of  the  world,  and  the  first  marriage,  after  that 
of  Adam  and  Eve;  must  have  been  between  brothers  and 
sisters  Thus  much  for  the  institution  of  marriage. 

It  has  been  a  question  extensively  debated,  whether  the 
antediluvians  were  permitted  to  eat  animal  food.  There 
is  certainly,  nothing  in  the  scripture  account,  which  au- 
thorises us  to  suppose  that  they  had  such  permission,  but 
entirely  the  contrary.  The  Almighty  specifies,  in  as  pre- 
cise language  as  can  well  be  conceived,  the  particular  diet 
which  man  was  to  use ;  and  there  is  no  mention  of  animal 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  111 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

food,  nor  any  hint  that  it  was  permitted.     "  Behold,  I  have 
given  you  every  herb  bearing  seed,  which  is  upon  the  face 
of  all  the  earth,  and  every  tree,  in  the  which,  is  the  fruit 
of  a  tree  yielding  seed;  to  you  it  shall  be  for  meat."     Gen- 
esis 1,  29.     The  natural  inference,   from  this  passage  is, 
that  the  diet  of  the  antediluvians  was  restricted  to  the  fruits 
of  the  earth ;  and  that  they  were,  by  no  means,  permitted 
to  feed  on  the  flesh  of  animals.     The  same  thing  appears 
in  the  grant,  afterwards  given  to  Noah,  "  Every  moving 
thing  that  liveth,  shall  be  meat  for  you;  even  as  the  green 
herb,  have  I  given  you  all  things.  "     Which  is  as  much  as 
to  say,  "  I  give  you  now,  as  full  permission  to  use  the  flesh 
of  animals,  for  food,  as  you  have,  hitherto  had  to  use  the 
fruits  of  the  earth.     In  answer  to  this,  it  has  been  said, 
that  the  permission  to  use  animal  food,  was  implied  in  the 
absolute  dominion  which  God  gave  to  Adam  over  every 
living  thing.     But  this  argument  would  prove  too  much  — 
it  w.ould  prove,  that  every  creature  subjected  to  the  power 
of  man,   was  allowed  him  for  food;  which  is  more  than 
Kreotophagists,  or  any  savages  would  admit,   as  one  of 
their  arguments  is,   that  there  was  from  the  beginning,  a 
distinction  between  clean  and  unclean  animals;  which  they 
contend  could  only  have  been  made  with  reference  to  food. 
But  to  this,  we  answer,  that  the  distinction  was   made 
with  express  reference  to  sacrifice,  and  probably,  with  an 
allusion  to  the  future  distinction  between  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles.    Hence,  we  find,  when  this  distinction  was  to  cease, 
it  was  intimated  to  St.   Peter,   by  a  vision  of  animals  of 
all  descriptions,  clean  and  unclean,   let  down,  as  it  were, 
in  a  sheet,  from  heaven,  of  which  the  apostle  was  com- 
manded to  eat  promiscuosly. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  offer  a  few  observations,  on 
some  remarkable  circumstances  in  the  antediluvian  history, 
which  cannot  be  included  under  either  of  the  foregoing 
heads.  One  circumstance  recorded  in  this  history,  has  been 


112          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

represented  as  very  wonderful,  viz.  the  marriages,  which 
are  said  to  have  taken  place,  between  the  sons  of  God,  and 
the  daughters  of  men;  though  we  are  satisfied  that  the 
wonder  arises,  solely,  from  the  misconceptions  of  ignorance; 
or,  from  a  love  of  the  marvellous !  It  would  be  irksome  to 
us,  to  detail  the  absurdities  which  have  been  advanced,  to 
obscure  a  subject,  which,  a  little  attention  to  the  phraseol- 
ogy and  contents  of  scripture,  might  have  easily  elucidated. 
Nothing  is  more  common  in  scripture,  than  to  denomi- 
nate believers,  the  sons,  or  the  children  of  God,  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  children  of  unbelief,  or  of  this  world.  By 
the  sons  of  God,  then,  we  are  to  understand  those  who 
observed  his  commandments;  and  by  the  daughters  of 
men,  are  to  understand,  the  offspring  of  that  degenerate 
race,  which  despised  and  trampled  on  the  laws  of  their 
Creator.  Those  who  adopt  this  interpretation,  which  seems 
to  be  the  only  one  that  is  rational  and  admissible,  suppose 
farther,  that  the  descendants  of  Seth,  are  intended  by  the 
former  terms,  and  that  the  latter  point  out  the  daughters  of 
Cain.  There  is  the  best  ground  for  this  opinion ;  and  the 
Jews,  by  whom  it  was  always  thus  received,  not  content 
with  the  language  of  scripture,  have  invented  many  rab- 
binical fables,  in  order  to  confirm  it. 

But  one  hint  from  Scripture,  is  worth  ten  thousand  con~ 
jectures;  In  Genesis  4,  xxvi,  it  is  said,  "  And  to  Seth,  to 
him  also,  there  was  born  a  son,  and  he  called  his  name 
Enos;  then  began  men  to  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord; " 
or,  as  it  is  more  properly  translated,  then  began  men  to  call 
themselves  by  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  that  is,  to  call  them- 
selves the  sons  or  the  children  of  God :  and,  as  this  circum- 

•  /  t 

stance  is  mentioned  immediately  in  connection  with  the 
family  of  Seth,  it  is  probable  that  it  was  to  his  descendants, 
that  this  designation  was  appropriated.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, that  they  soon  forfeited  the  title,  through  the  influence 
of  their  fair  but  wicked  consorts ;  and  they  are  not  the  only 
persons  whose  temporal  existence  has  been  converted  into 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

TO    DIVERSE,    NOTABLE   FOOLS   AND   ASSES. 

the  gall  of  bitterness,  by  fair  and  yet  unprincipled  and 
abandoned  women. 

But  the  next  thing  that  claims  our  attention,  is  the  ex- 
traordinary  longevity  of  the  antediluvians!  Some,  who 
would  be  considered  as  the  monopolizers  of  wisdom,  have 
endeavored  to  explain  away  the  wonder  altogether.  They 
suppose  that  the  time  was  calculated  according  to  lunar 
years;  but  there  are  invincible  objections  to  this  supposition. 
First :  it  would  make  the  age  of  many  of  the  antediluvians, 
shorter  than  our  own ;  and,  secondly,  if  we  adopt  this 
mode  of  calculation,  it  is  impossible  to  imagine  where  we 
are  to  stop.  Shem  lived  after  the  flood,  five  hundred  years ; 
Arphaxed,  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight ;  Japhet,  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine ;  Terah,  two  hundred  and  five ;  Abra- 
ham, one  hundred  and  seventy-five ;  Jacob,  one  hundred 
and  forty-seven. .  These  periods  will  be  thought  too  long, 
by  those  who  startle  at  the  longevity  of  the  primitive  race ; 
or  the  generations  immediately  succeeding ;  but  if  we  ap- 
ply their  mode  of  calculation  to  them,  they  will  dwindle 
into  perfect  insignificance.  Methuselah  himself,  would 
barely  exceed  fourscore ;  and  Arphaxed,  who,  according  to 
the  reckoning  in,  scripture,  appeared  to  have  attained  to  a 
good  old  age,  would  be  little  more  than  thirty-six  !  This 
way  of  calculation,  then,  we  see,  must  be  abandoned;  and 
we  must  endeavor  to  assign  some  reason  for  the  extended 
duration  of  human  life,  in  the  first  ages  of  the  world. 

Various,  millions  of  conjectures,  have  been  advanced, 
upon  this  topic.  But,  it  has  been  alleged,  that  the  bodies 
of  the  first  race  of  men,  were  much  more  robust  than  they 
are  at  present ;  and  that  the  fountain  of  life  was  then  but 
little  contaminated  by  hereditary  disease  ;  and  for  a  long 
time,  none  at  all.  Both  these  propositions  are  undoubtedly 
true,  and  contributed  much  to  protract  the  life  of  man.  It 
is  also  true,  that  the  antediluvians  enjoyed  a  much  milder 
8 


114         "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONDS. 

temperature  of  air,  than  has  ever  been  experienced  since 
the  flood ;  and  that  they  were  not  exposed  to  those  violent 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  dryness  and  humidity,  which 
relax  our  frames,  and  produce  disease,  and  often  early 
death.  It  appears,  however,  that  during  the  whole  ante- 
diluvian period,  there  was  not  the  least  contraction  of  the 
life'  of  man ;  for  Adam  lived  to  the  age  of  nine  hundred 
and  thirty,  and  Noah  to  the  age  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty. 
But  directly  after  the  flood,  we  find  the  period  of  human 
life  gradually  diminishing,  till  at  length  it  shrunk  into  the 
present  contracted  span  of  existence.  And  these  circum- 
stances, certainly,  are  proof  positive,  that  the  antediluvians 
enjoyed  a  mild  and  equal  temperature  of  climate,  which 
abundantly  warranted  the  thrilling  description  given  by 
the  poet,  in  by-gone  days  : — 

"Vet  erat  eternum,  placidique  tepentibus  auris, 
Mulcebat  zephiri  natos,  sine  semine  flores."     [Ovid. 

In  consequence  of  the  deluge  —  the  entire  reduction  of  the 
earth  to  a  sop — a  fatal,  an  awful  revolution  took  place;  even 
the  elements,  ever  since,  have  been  universally  charged 
•with  hostility  against  the  happiness  and  life  of  man  !  That 
such  a  revolution  did  take  place,  the  results  have  reduced 
to  a  moral  certainty,  showing  a  total  change  in  the  original 
.constitution  of  the  climate.  But  we  have  no  doubt  but 
Noah  and  his  family,  were  duly  apprised  of  this  approach- 
Ing  terrific  shadow.  Indeed,  a  moderate  share  of  philo- 
sophical skill,  in  the  observation  of  physical  laws,  might 
have  led  all  those  who  had  arrived  to  adult  years,  in 
the  family  of  Noah,  to  conclude,  with  certainty,  that  such 
a  change  in  the  constitution  of  the  earth,  must,  from  the 
immense  decomposition  of  matter,  consequent  upon  it, 
charge  the  entire  atmosphere,  when  restored  and  taken 
into  a  new  form,  with  a  poisonous,  malarious,  humidity, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  115 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

rendering  it  ever  after,  a  miasmatic  and  deadly  foe  to  the 
human  family,  in  their  generations.  God  declared  defi- 
nitely, to  Noah,  "  I  will  destroy  the  earth,"  with  the  in- 
habitants," annihilating,  you  see,  all  its  present  forms  for- 
ever. God  did,  according  to  his  promise.  When  the  mass 
of  earth  took  a  new  form,  the  waters  gradually  subsiding, 
every  foot  of  the  earth,  which  afterwards  was  presented, 
was  new  —  had  never  been  seen  before — the  very  spot 
where  the  ark  rested,  being  new. 

To  this  then,  the  portion  of  the  earth  which  we  now  inhab- 
it, furnishes  the  clearest,  sensible  evidence  that  could  be  pro- 
duced.   A  consciousness  of  such  a  change,  ahead,  therefore, 
we  see,  rendered  a  new  covenant  by  God,  with  Noah,  as  im- 
portant to  the  family  of  Noah,  as  to  his  posterity.    Without 
the  "promise  of  the  bow  in  the  lurid  clouds,"  then  before  the 
race  in  all  future  time,  the  prospect  must  have  been  as  hor- 
rible to  them,  as  we  can  well  conceive!    This  bow  being  an 
entirely  new  thing  —  having  never  been  known  to  exist  in 
the  celestial  atmosphere  of  antediluvian  days  —  is  a  posi- 
tive proof  that  such  a  revolution  as  we  have  described,  did, 
in  every  respect,  then  take  place.     But  the  immediate  des- 
cendants, inheriting  from  their  fathers  the  stamina  of  lon- 
gevity, were  kindly  sustained  by  their  Creator,  in  resisting  the 
sudden  effects  of  this  deteriorated  climate.    Indeed,  the  first 
post-diluvian  generation,  reached  to  nearly  half  the  com- 
parative age  of  their  predecessors.     The  vigor,  however,  of 
the  human  constitution,  was  soon  seen  rapidly  undermining, 
by  the  various  deteriorating,  progressive  tide  of  evils;  and 
it  soon  sunk  away  to  that  point,  where,  by  the  irreversable 
decree  of  the  Almighty,  it  then  rested  ;  and  that  is  the  point 
where  it  now  stands  —  and  where,  by  the  purpose,  and 
power,  and  immutable  truth  and  goodness  of  Him,  who 
measures  years,  and  destinies,  and  the  slow,  but  mighty 
cycles  of  eternity,  it  is  to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  time. 
We  are  bound  to  notice  another  remarkable  circumstance 
connected  with  this  portion  of  history,  viz :  the  existence  of 


116          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

giants  in  the  antediluvian  ages.  It  cannot  be  at  all  admit- 
ted, as  has  been  absurdly  urged  by  some,  that  the  whole 
race  of  men,  during  that  period,  were  giants ;  for,  from  their 
being  so  particularly  specified,  it  is  most  evident  that  they 
were  of  rare  occurrence;  though,  as  we  have  all  along  as- 
sumed and  maintained,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  race 
was,  in  that  early  period,  considerably  superior  even  in 
stature  as  well  as  in  intellect,  to  the  present  race  of  men. 
That  they  were  so  in  intellect,  is  most  abundantly  proved 
by  the  audacious  enterprizes  in  those  days,  and  by  the 
generations  immediately  following.*  But  many  attempts 
have  been  made  to  discredit  the  accounts  of  these  giants. 
Amongst  others  —  some  of  the  grievously  debased,  and 
grovelling  minded,  imbecile  maniacs,  as  we  hesitate  not 
to  call  them,  when  compared  with  their  antediluvian  an- 
cestors, have,  "proved  to  a  demonstration,"  as  they  call  it, 
that  the  existence  of  giants,  is  mathematically  impossible ! 
Our  only  wonder  here  is,  that  an  attempt  so  palpably  ab- 
surd and  silly,  should  ever  have  been  countenanced  by  any 
creature  in  human  shape.  The  argument  is,  that  animals,. 
trees,  or  vegetables,  if  extended  far  beyond  what  we  are 
accustomed  to  find  their  common  size,  would  fall  to  pieces 
by  their  own  weight !  Now  this  is  about  as  near  rational 
logic,  as  would  be  the  argument,  that  as  an  idiot  has  no 

*The  intellect,  natural  penetration,  judgement,  intelligence,  and  moral 
powers  of  Adam,  in  his  original  state :  ''being  made  a  little  lower  than  the 
angels  —  crowned  by  his  Creator  with  glory  and  honor,"  and  receiving  and 
executing  the  high  commission,  to  give  names  to  all  the  creatures  He  had 
made,  so  that  by  whatever  name  Adam  called  them,  they  are  to  be  called  in 
all  time,  —  have  been  possessed  and  enjoyed,  in  equal  measure,  by  no  indi- 
viudal  of  his  descendants,  —  and  will  not  be,  if  ever,  until  after  the  res- 
surrection.  Yet,  one  of  the  ephemera  of  our  fermented  times,  says :  — 
"Adam's  theological  knowledge  was  So  limited  and  inefficient,  that  he 
knew  not  the  meaning  of  the  moral  law  of  God,  nor  what  would  be  the 
effects  of  transgression,  or  disobedience."  JJlas!  poor  Adam,'. — upon  such 
suppositions,  and  principles,  he  was  a  great  baby,  indeed.  We  solemnly  ask, 
how  can  any  intelligent  man,  not  to  say  Christian,  make  such  statements  ? 
We  were  horrified  by  this  blasphemy,  when  we  first  saw  it  in  the  author's 
"Notes  on  Romans,"  and  declared,  in  the  presence  of  clerical  brethren,  that 
we  would  commit  ou  copy  of  the  book  to  the  flames.  Some  present,on  the 
occasion,  sympathized,  cordially  with  us,  in  our  sentiments  and  resolu- 
tion. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          117 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

skill  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  there  can  be  no  such  thing  as 
a  man,  formed,  enlightened  and  commissioned  by  the  infi- 
nite understanding  of  Almighty  God  ?  Still,  we  freely  ad- 
rait,  that  this  scripture  account  of  giants,  is  laconic :  "  There 
were  giants  in  those  days,  in  the  earth  —  and  when  the  sons 
of  God  came  in  and  married  their  daughters,  they  bore  chil- 
dren to  them,  which  were  of  old  men  of  renown."  It  is 
conjectured  by  Le  Clerc,  that  the  "centaurs,"  of  fabulous 
history,  were  in  fact,  the  antediluvian  giants;  and  he  sup- 
ports this  conjecture  by  a  very  ingenious  etymology.  The 
giants  are  called  Nepheani,  in  scripture  —  and  the  centaurs 
are  said  to  have  been  begotten  by  Ekcephelas,  or  to  have 
been  the  offspring  cf  Nephale. 

But  leaving  the  topics  already  noticed,  and  the  authority 
of  Moses,  we  shall  next  show  how  far  the  antediluvian 
history,  which  he  gave,  is  confirmed  by  heathen  testimo- 
ny. Yet,  we  are  conscious,  that  the  scripture  account, 
needs  no  such  testimony,  with  any  class  of  sober  readers, 
to  sustain  their  faith.  And  here,  we  will  incidentally,  re- 
mark, that  great  injury  has  often  been  done  to  the  cause  of 
truth,  by  an  injudicious  blending  of  scripture  history,  with 
heathen  mythology.  Deists  have  affected  to  imagine;  and 
some  believers  have  unwisely  conceded,  for  the  moment, 
that  the  Mosaic  accounts  of  the  first  ages  of  the  world,  are 
the  feeblest  of  the  sources  of  defence  of  Christianity.  But, 
we,  on  the  contrary,  are  immoveably  persuaded,  that  the 
firmest  ground  which  even  a  theoretic  believer  can  take  of 
it,  is  the  Mosaic  record.  At  the  same  time  we  will  not  re- 
ject the  confirmation  of  truth  from  any  quarter ;  and  though 
it  be  sufficiently  attractive  from  its  native  beauty,  and  by 
the  respectability,  and  nobility,  of  its  adherents;  yet,  it 
cannot  be  denied,  that  it  receives  additional  eclat,  when  con- 
firmed by  the  involuntary  testimony  of  strangers  and  ad- 
versaries. In  this  view,  we  proceed  to  compare  some  few 
of  the  heathen  accounts,  with  those  given  by  Moses ;  and 
we  have  no  doubt,  that  whatever  is  found  in  them  consist- 
ent with  truth,  or  probability,  will  be  found  equally  con- 


118  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

sistent  with  his  narrative;  and  that  whatever  contradicts 
it,  will  be  found  equally  contradictory  to  reason  and  com- 
mon sense. 

I  will  commence  with  Sanchroniotho,  the  only  author 
who,  in  point  of  antiquity,  has  the  least  pretensions  to  com- 
pare with  Moses ;  though  the  superior  antiquity  of  Moses, 
is  admitted  by  Porphyry,  who  you  know,  is  among  the 
shrewdest  of  the  adversaries  of  Christianity ;  and  he  makes 
this  admission,  when  attempting  to  overthrow  the  credit  of 
Moses,  by  the  authority  of  this  pretended  Phenician  histo- 
rian; I  have  said  pretended,  because  the  existence  of  any 
such  author  as  Sanchroniotho,  is  problematic  in  the  extreme. 
Such  a  work  was  never  seen,  nor  heard  of,  till  the  time  of 
Adrian,  when  one  Philo  Biblius  professed  to  give  a  transla- 
tion of  it.  The  original  never  has  been  seen,  and  even  ac- 
cording to  the  translator,  the  work  was  by  no  means  the 
same,  as  when  it  was  written,  having  been  much  altered 
and  disfigured.  All  that  remains,  even  of  the  translation,  is 
merely  some  fragments  preserved  by  Eusebius,  which  have 
been  translated  into  English,  with  long  annotations,  by 
bishop  Cumberland.  On  such  a  document  as  this,  of  course, 
little  stress  can  be  laid.  The  account  contained  in  it,  how- 
ever, rather  confirms,  than  contradicts  the  testimony  of 
Moses,  as  you  will  perceive  by  the  following  facts.  It  de- 
rives all  mankind  from  one  pair,  Protageus  and  JEnon,  the 
latter  of  whom  is  said  to  have  found  out  the  way  of  gath- 
ering fruit  from  trees;  a  striking  resemblance  of  the  sin  of 
Eve.  The  offspring  of  these,  are  said  to  have  been  of  enor- 
mous height  and  bulk.  Their  descendants,  in  the  seventh 
generation,  discovered  iron,  and  the  method  of  working  it. 
There  first  offspring  are  said  to  be  Genus  and  Genuea, 
thought|  to  be  Cain  and  his  sister ;  and  we  remark,  the 
very  fact  recorded  by  Moses,  as  to  their  working  in  iron,  is 
here  confirmed.  'But  though  we  might  give  many  more 
facts  from  this  translation,  we  refrain;  as  the  coincidences 
increase  at  every  step,  so  as  to  warrant  the  conclusion,  and 
no  other,  that  these  were  manufactured  from  the  Mosaic  ac- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          119 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

count,  by  some  merely  deistical  blackguard.  Yet,  the  work 
is  soberly  attempted  to  be  played  oft  by  both  pagans  and 
infidels,  in  opposition  to  Moses.  But  we  must  here  leave 
all  such  alone  in  their  glory ! 

Berosus,  a  Babylonish  priest,  who  was  bora  in  the  time 
of  Alexander  the  Great,  is  the  next,  most  ancient  historian 
of  these  events.  All  that  remains  of  his  works,  however, 
are  some  fragments  in  Josephus,  Eusebius,  and  others ; 
but  he  expressly  mentions  the  flood;  and  from  Alorus,  the 
first  man,  according  to  his  account,  to  Xisuthrus,  in  whose 
time,  the  flood  happened,  he  reckons  ten  generations,  which 
is  exactly  the  number  given  by  Moses.  If  we  turn  from 
these  to  the  Greek  and  Latin  authors,  we  shall  find  still 
stronger  proofs  of  the  truth  of  the  Mosaic  history.  Their 
paradisical  state  is  clearly  presented  by  the  golden  age  of 
the  Greeks  —  and  many  of  their  authors  bear  testimony 
to  some  of  the  most  remarkable  facts  in  sacred  history. 

Josephus  mentions  Hesteius,  Hecateus,  Hellanieus,  and 
others  of  the  Greek  historians,  as  all  declaring  that  the  first 
race  of  men  lived  to  near  a  thousand  years.  The  writings 
of  these  authors,  which  were  extant  in  the  time  of  Jose- 
phus, have  been  consumed,  in  the  providential  conflagra- 
tions of  those  libraries  in  the  East,  where  they  had  been 
deposited ;  or  destroyed  by  the  nations  by  whom  they  have 
been  plundered.  But  Hesiod,  whom  he  mentions  as  testi- 
fying to  the  same  effect,  still  remains,  to  justify  the  fidelity 
of  this  Jewish  historian.  In  his  "Works  and  Days,"  this 
poet  gives  the  following  account  —  in  English,  it  runs  thus: 

"In  early  times,  for  full  an  hundred  years' — 
The  fostering  mother,  with  an  anxious  eye, 
Cherished  at  home,  the  unwieldly,  backward  boy." 

And,  in  which  of  the  Greek  poets,  do  we  not  find  the  story 
of  the  giants  —  their  enormous  impiety  —  and  their  wars 
against  the  gods?  Ovid,  has  collected  into  one  focus,'in  his 
Metamorphosis,  all  the  doctrines  of  the  Greek  authors,  re- 
specting the  creation,  the  primeval  happiness  of  man;  and  his 


120          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

rapid  and  excessive  degeneracy  —  until  the  whole  impious 
race  were  all  swept  away  with  a  flood.  One  would  almost 
exclaim,  that  he  was  writing  out  a  scripture  history  on  the 
subject.  He  mentions  the  impious  madness  in  sin,  as  the 
consummation  of  human  impiety —  and  that  their  overthrow 
immediately  followed.  On  this  review,  therefore,  of  the 
coincidences  between  sacred  and  profane  history,  we  freely 
observe  here,  reader,  you  may  rest  perfectly  satisfied.  All 
the  accounts,  that  approach  nearest  to  the  time  of  Moses, 
in  point  of  antiquity,  most  nearly  resemble  his  in  the  facts 
which  they  detail  —  but  the  stream  of  tradition,  by  a  fatal 
necessity,  became,  like  the  generations  of  men,  corrupted ; 
and  in  a  short  time,  their  accounts  were  so  disfigured  by 
allegory  and  fable,  that  we  can  scarcely  perceive  any  con- 
-nection  between  them,  and  the  original  events.  As  to  the 
number  of  the  population  at  the  event  of  the  deluge, 
nothing  is  known  with  certainty  —  but  according  to  only 
the  ordinary  rate  of  increase  in  the  human  species,  it  must 
have  been  immensely  great.  As  the  general  duration  of 
human  life  was  at  least  ten  times  longer,  than  it  is  at  pres- 
ent, the  rate  of  increase  must  have  been  in  the  same  pro- 
portion—  and  you  see,  therefore,  that  if  we  adopt  this  plan 
of  calculation,  the  world  must  have  been  much  more  popu- 
lous, during  the  period  before  the  flood,  than  it  is  at  the 
present  moment. 

And  here,  to  close  our  present  sermon,  we  barely  add,  as 
a  Christian  philosopher,  the  reflection,  it  is  horrible  to  think, 
that  such  an  enormous  population  should  be  all  worked  up, 
as  that  was,  in  a  few  days,  into  additional  paste,  for  the  re- 
organization of  our  earth!  Yes,  the  idea  is  shocking, 
indeed !  ! ! 

Yea !  exuvia  of  our  fellow  beings,  but  of  a  larger,  nobler 
build,  have,  with  the  exuvia  of  all  other  animals,  been  dis- 
covered every  where,  in  endless  variety  of  re-combination, 
in  thousands  of  instances,  already,  in  the  crust  of  our  earth, 
since  the  flood. 


SERMON  VI. 


ROMANS  XV  — 4. 

FOR  WHATSOEVER  THINGS  WERE  WRITTEN  AFORETIME,  WERE 
WRITTEN  FOR  OUR  LEARNING,  THAT  WE,  THROUGH  PATIENCE 
AND  COMFORT  OF  THE  SCRIPTURES,  MIGHT  HAVE  HOPE. 

READER  —  Having,  in  the  preceding  part,  reviewed  Moses' 
account  of  the  creation ;  of  the  religious  institutions  ordained 
at  first,  for  the  observance  of  man,  by  the  Creator;  and  of 
the  history  of  the  government,  manners,  and  destiny  of 
the  race,  during  a  period  of  sixteen  hundred  and  fifty-six 
years ;  it  is  now  our  duty  and  object,  to  take  a  view  some- 
what more  particular  and  detailed,  of  the  evidences  af- 
forded of  the  fact  of  a  former  general  inundation  of  this 
globe,  which  has  ever  since  been  called  the  deluge. 

The  term  "deluge,"  in  theology,  denores  that  universal 
flood,  by  which  the  whole  inhabitants  of  this  globe,  except 
Noah  and  his  family,  were  destroyed  ! 

We  here,  have  arrived  at  a  crisis,  in  our  review  of  the 
testimony  of  Moses,  the  ancient  servant  of  God]  where  it 
is  deemed  important,  and  indeed,  indispensable  to  admit  a 
few  dashes  of  glory,  furnished  by  "-the  Artist"  himself, 
upon  our  canvass. 

"And  God  said  unto  Noah,  The  end  of  all  flesh  is  come 
before  me;  for  the  earth  is  filled  with  violence  through  them: 
and  behold,  I  will  destroy  them  with  the  earth.  Make  thee 


122          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OE   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

an  ark  of  gopher- wood :  rooms  shalt  thou  make  in  the  ark, 
and  shalt  pitch  it  within  and  without  with  pitch.  And  this 
is  the  fashion  which  thou  shalt  make  it  of:  The  length  of 
the  ark  shall  be  three  hundred  cubits,  the  breadth  of  it  fif- 
ty cubits,  and  the  height  of  it  thirty  cubits.  A  window 
shalt  thou  make  to  the  ark,  and  in  a  cubit  shalt  thou  finish 
it  above;  and  the  door  of  the  ark  shalt  thou  set  in  the  side 
thereof:  with  lower,  second,  and  third  stories  shalt  thou 
make  it.  And  behold,  I,  even  I,  do  bring  a  flood  of  waters 
upon  the  earth,  to  destroy  all  flesh,  wherein  is  the  breath 
of  life,  from  under  heaven :  and  every  thing  that  is  in  the 
earth  shall  die.  But  with  thee  will  I  establish  my  covenant: 
and  thou  shalt  come  into  the  ark,  thou,  and  thy  sons,  and 
thy  wife,  and  thy  sons' wives  with  thee.  And  of  every 
living  thing  of  all  flesh,  two  of  every  sort  shalt  thou  bring 
into  the  ark,  to  keep  them  alive  with  thee :  they  shall  be 
male  and  female.  Of  fowls  after  their  kind,  and  of  cattle 
after  their  kind,  and  of  every  creeping  thing  of  the  earth, 
after  his  kind ;  two  of  every  sort  shall  come  unto  thee,  to 
keep  them  alive.  And  take  thou  unto  thee  of  all  food  that 
is  eaten,  and  thou  shalt  gather  it  to  thee;  and  it  shall  be  for 
food  for  thee,  and  for  them.  Thus  did  Noah  ;  according  to 
all  that  God  commanded  him,  so  did  he.  And  Noah  went 
in,  and  his  sons,  and  his  wife,  and  his  son's  wives,  with 
him,  into  the  ark,  because  of  the  [threatened]  waters  of  the 
flood.  Of  clean  leasts,  and  of  beasts  that  are  not  clean, 
and  of  fowls,  and  everything  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
There  went  in,  two  and  two,  unto  Noah,  into  the  ark,  the 
male  and  the  female,  as  God  had  command  Noah.  And 
the  Lord  shut  him  in. 

And  now — anon,  "In  the  six  hundredth  year  of  Noah's 
life,  in  the  second  month,  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  month, 
the  same  day  were  all  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep  brok- 
en up,  and  the  windows  of  heaven  were  opened."  "And 
the  waters  prevailed  upon  the  earth,  and  bore  up  the  ark ; 
and^it  was  lift  up  above  the  earth ;  and  the  ark  went  upon 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          123 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

the  face  of  the  waters.  And  the  waters  prevailed  exceed- 
ingly upon  the  earth ;  and  all  the  high  hills  that  were  under 
the  whole  heaven  were  covered.  Fifteen  cubits  upward, 
did  the  waters  prevail:  and  the  mountains  were  covered. 
And  all  flesh  died  that  moved  upon  the  earth,  both  of  fowl, 
and  of  cattle,  and  of  beast,  and  of  every  creeping  thing 
that  creepeth  upon  the  earth,  and  every  man:  all  in  whose 
nostrils  was  the  breath  of  life,  of  all  that  was  in  the  dry 
land,  died.  And  every  living  substance  was  destroyed, 
which  was  upon  the  face  of  the  ground,  both  man  and  cat- 
tle, and  the  creeping  things,  and  the  fowl  of  heaven;  and 
they  were  destroyed  from  the  earth ;  and  Noah  only  re- 
mained alive,  and  they  that  were  with  him  in  the  ark.  And 
the  waters  prevailed  upon  the  earth  a  hundred  and  fifty 
days. 

"And  after  the  end  of  the  hundred  and  fifty  days,  the 
waters  were  abated.  And  the  ark  rested  in  the  seventh 
month,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  month,  upon  the 
mountains  of  Ararat. 

"And  God  blessed  Noah  and  his  sons,  and  said  unto  them, 
Be  fruitful,  and  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth.  And  the 
fear  of  you,  and  the  dread  of  you,  shall  be  upon  every 
beast  of  the  earth,  and  upon  every  fowl  of  the  air,  upon  all 
that  moveth  upon  the  earth,  and  upon  all  the  fishes  of  the 
sea;  into  your  hand  are  they  delivered.  Every  moving 
thing  that  liveth,  shall  be  meat  for  you ;  even  as  the  green 
herb,  have  I  given  you  all  things  :  But  flesh  with  the  life 
thereof,  which  is  the  blood  thereof,  shall  ye  not  eat.  And 
surely  your  blood  of  your  lives  will  1  require  :  at  the  hand 
of  every  beast  will  I  require  it,  and  at  the  hand  of  man; 
at  the  hand  of  every  man's  brother,  will  I  require  the  life 
of  man.  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his 
blood  be  shed ;  for  in  the  image  of  God,  made  he  man. 

"And  you,  be  ye  fruitful,  and  multiply;  bring  forth  abun- 
dantly in  the  earth,  and  multiply  therein.  And  God  spake 
unto  Noah,  and  to  his  sons  with  him  saying,  And  1,  behold 


124          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

I,  establish  my  covenant  with  you,  and  with  your  seed  after 
you  ;  And  with  every  living  creature  that  is  with  you,  of 
the  fowl,  of  the  cattle,  and  of  every  beast  of  the  earth,  with 
you,  from  all  that  go  out  of  the  ark,  to  every  beast  of  the 
earth.  And  I  will  establish  my  covenant  with  you ;  neither 
shall  all  flesh  be  cut  off  any  more  by  the  waters  of  a  flood; 
neither  shall  there  any  more  be  a  flood  to  destroy  the  earth. 
"And  God  said,  this  is  the  token  of  the  covenant  which 
I  make  between  me  and  you,  and  every  living  creature  that 
is  with  you,  for  perpetual  generations.  I  do  set  my  Bow  in 
the  cloud,  and  it  shall  be  for  a  token  of  a  covenant  between 
me  and  the  earth.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  I  bring 
a  cloud  over  the  earth,  that  the  bow  shall  be  seen  in  the 
cloud ;  and  I  will  remember  my  covenant,  which  is  between 
me  and  you,  and  every  living  creature  of  all  flesh ;  and  the 
waters  shall  no  more  become  a  flood  to  destroy  all  flesh. 
And  the  bow  shall  be  in  the  cloud;  and  I  will  look  upon  it, 
that  I  may  remember  the  everlasting  covenant  between  God 
and  every  living  creature  of  all  flesh  that  is  upon  the  earth. 
And  God  said  unto  Noah,  this  is  the  token  of  the  covenant 
which  I  have  established  between  me  and  all  flesh  that  is 
upon  the  earth."' 

According  to  the  most  approved  systems  of  chronology, 
as  we  have  before  stated,  this  remarkable  event  happened 
in  the  year  1656,  after  the  creation;  or  about  236S  years 
before  the  Christian  era.  Of  so  general  a  calamity,  from 
which  only  a  single  family  of  all  who  then  lived  on  the  face  of 
the  earth,  was  preserved ;  we  might,  naturally,  indeed,  ex- 
pect to  find  some  memorials  in  the  traditionary  records  of 
Pagan  history,  as  well  as  in  the  sacred  volume,  where  its 
peculiar  cause,  and  the  circumstances  which  attended  it, 
are  so  distinctly  and  fully  related.  Its  magnitude  and  sin- 
gularity, could  scarcely  fail  to  make  an  indelible  impres- 
sion on  the  minds  of  the  survivors;  which  would  be  com- 
municated from  them  to  their  children;  and  would  not, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          125 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

therefore,  be  easily  effaced  from  the  traditions  of  even  their 
latest  posterity.     Any  deficiency  in  such  traces  or  sources 
of  evidence  of  this  awful  event,  though  perhaps  it  might 
not  entire!^  invalidate  our  belief  of  its  reality,  who  have 
philosophically  examined  the  surface  of  the  earth  around 
us;  yet,  would  certainly  tend  considerably  to  weaken  the 
claim  of  the  fact  to  credibility ;  it  being  scarcely  possible 
that  the  knowledge  of  it,  should  be  utterly  lost  to  the  rest 
of  the  world,  and  confined  to  the  documents  of  the  Jewish 
nation  alone !     And  here,  therefore,  as  we  will  now  prove 
to  you,  what,  and  all  that  we  might  reasonably  expect,  or 
that  the  most  incredulous  and  captious,  could  require,  has 
accordingly,  been  actually  and  completely  realized.     In- 
deed, the  evidence  which  has  been  brought  from  almost 
every  quarter  of  the  world,  to  establish  the  reality  of  this 
event,  is  of  the  most  conclusive  and  irresistible  kind;  and 
every   investigation,  whether   etymological  or   historical, 
which  has  been  made,  concerning  heathen  rites  and  tradi- 
tions, has  constantly  added  to  its  force,  no  less  than  to  its 
extent.     And  here,  we  should  be  chargeable  with  injustice 
to  the  memory  of  ingenuity,  industry,  and  erudition,  quite 
unexampled  in  modern  times,  were  we  not  to  make  par- 
ticular mention  of  Bryant,  the  learned  annalist  of  "  Ancient 
Mythology,"  whose  patience  and  profoundness  of  research, 
have  thrown  such  convincing  and  overpowering  light  on 
this  important  inquiry.     Nor  may  we  omit  his  ardent  and 
successful  disciple,  M.  Faber,  who,  in  his  "Dissertation  on 
the  Mysteries  of  the  Cabiri,"  has,  in  travelling  over  the 
same  ground  with  his  illustrious  master,  at  once  corrected 
some  of  his  less  important  statements,  and  greatly  strength- 
ened his  general  conclusions.     As  the  basis  of  their  system, 
however,  rests  on  a  most  extensive  etymological  examina- 
tion of  the  names  of  the  deities,  and  other  mythological 
personages,  worshipped  and  celebrated  by  the  heathen,  com- 
pared with  the  various  traditions  respecting  their  histories; 
and,  also,  the  nature  of  the  rites,  and  names  of  the  places 


126          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

that  were  sacred  to  them ;  we  cannot  perform  more,  than 
briefly  exhibit  the  result  of  their  investigations;  referring 
all  intelligent  readers,  at  the  same  time,  for  the  particular 
details,  to  the  highly  original  and  valuable  trea^ses  of  those 
scholars.     No  fact  is  more  incontrovertibly  established  by 
profane  historians,  than  that  of  "  the  flood."     Its  memory 
is  incorporated  with  almost  every  part  of  the  Gentile  my- 
thology and  worship;    Noah,  under  a  vast  multitude  of 
characters,  is  made  one  of  their  first  deities,  to  whom  all 
the  nations  of  the  heathen  world,  looked  up  as  their  found- 
er ;  and  to  some  circumstance  or  other  of  whose  history, 
and  that  of  his  sons,  and  the  first  patriarchs,  most,  if  not 
all,  of  their  religious  ceremonies,  may  be  considered  as  not 
indistinctly  referring.     Traces  of  these,  neither  vague,  nor 
involved  in  the  least  obscurity,  are  conceived  to  be  found 
in  the  history  and  character,  not  only  of  Deucalion,  but  of 
Atlas,  Cronus,  or  Saturn,  Dionusus,  Inachus,  Janus,  Minos, 
Zeus,  and  many  others  among  the  Greeks;  of  Isis,  Osiris, 
Sesostris,  Cannes,  Typhon,  &c.,  among  the  Egyptians ;  of 
Dagon,  Agruerus,  Sydyk,  &c.,  among  the  Phosnicians;  of 
Astarte,   Derceto,  &c.,   among  the  Assyrians;  of  Buddha, 
Vishnu,  &c.,  among  the  Hindoos;  of  Fohi,|and  a  deity 
represented  as  "sitting  upon  the  lotus,  in  the  midst  of  the 
waters,"  among  the  Chinese ;  of  Budo,  and  Jakusi,  among 
the  Japanese,  &c.,-  i&c. 

Allusions  to  the  ark  itself,  are  discovered  in  many  of  the 
ancient  mysteries  and  traditions  with  respect  to  the  dove 
and  the  rainbow;  by  which  several  of- these  allegorical 
personages  were  attended ;  which  cannot  be  explained,  ex- 
cept sophistically,  unless  they  are  supposed,  and  fully  ad- 
mitted to  relata to  the  fact  and  history  of  "the  flood."  By 
the  celebrated'  agdoas,  of  the  Egyptians,  consisting  of 
"eight  persons"  sailing  together  in  the  "sacred  barisy  or 
ark,"  we  see  the  family  of  Noah,  which  was  precisely  eight 
in  number,  most  precisely  designated ;  and  in  the  rites  of 
Adonis,  or  Thammuz,  in  particular,  many  circumstances 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          127 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

have  been  noticed,  as  presenting  a  distinct  reference  to  the 
events  recorded  in  the  sixth  and  seventh  chapters  of  Gene- 
sis.    With  respect  to  this  source  of  evidence,  we  will  only 
add,  that  after  every  reasonable  deduction  is  made  from  it, 
•which  the  unreasonable  indulgence  of  fancy,  occasionally 
exhibited  by  writers  of  a  certain  class,  has  rendered  neces- 
sary, it  still  contains  so  much  that  is  relevant,  and  perfectly 
conclusive,  that  we  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  our  con- 
viction, that  it  has  a  solid  foundation  in  truth  and  fact ;  for 
it  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive,  that  a  mere  hypothesis 
could  be  supported  by  evidence  so  varied,  so  extensive,  and 
in  many  particulars  so  demonstrative,  as  that  which  is  here 
presented.     Besides,  however,  the  allusions  to  "  the  flood," 
in  the  mythology  and  religious  ceremonies  of  the  heathen, 
to  which  we  have  now  briefly  adverted,  there  is  a  variety 
of  traditions,  concerning  it,  still  more  direct  and  circum- 
stantial, the  coincidence  of  which,   with  the  narrative  of 
iMoses,  it  will  require  no  ordinary  degree  of  sceptical  har- 
dihood to  deny.     These,  also,  we  shall  now  briefly  present, 
"beginning  with  those  which  are  most  distant  and  obscure; 
and  then  stating  those  which  are  more  remarkable  and  cir- 
cumstantially coincident  with,  and  confirmatory  of,  the  Bi- 
ble record.     We  have  been  informed  by  one  of  the  circum- 
navigators of  the  world,  who  visited  the  remote  island  of 
Otaheite,  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  being  asked  concern- 
ing their  origin,  answered,  that  their  supreme  God,  having, 
a  long  time  ago,  been  angry,  dragged  the  earth  through  the 
sea,  when  their  island  was  broken  off,  and  preserved ! 

In  the  island  of  Cuba,  only  a  few  years  since,  the  people 
were  said  to  believe  that  the  world  was  once  destroyed  by 
water,  by  three  persons,  evidently  alluding  to  the  three 
sons  of  Noah.  It  is  even  related,  that  they  have  a  tradi- 
tion among  them,  that  an  old  man,  knowing  that  a  flood 
was  approaching,  built  a  large  ship,  and  went  into  it  with 
a  great  number  of  animals ;  and  that  he  sent  out  from  the 
ship,  a  crow,  which  did  not  immediately  come  back,  stay- 


128          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

ing  to  feed  on  the  carcasses  of  dead  animals;  but  after- 
wards returned  with  a  green  branch  in  its  mouth.  The 
author  who  gives  the  above  account,  also  affirms,  that  it 
was  reported  by  the  inhabitants  of  Castella  del  Oro,  in  Ter- 
ra Firma,  that,  during  a  universal  deluge,  one  man,  with 
his  children,  were  the  only  persons  who  escaped,  by  means 
of  a  canoe ;  and  that  from  them,  the  world  was  afterwards 
peopled. 

According  to  the  Peruvians,  in  consequence  of  a  general 
inundation,  occasioned  by  violent  and  continued  rains, 
a  universal  destruction  of  the  human  species,  took  place, 
a  few  persons  only  excepted,  who  escaped  into  caves  on  the 
tops  of  the  mountains,  into  which  they  had  previously  con- 
veyed a  stock  of  provisions,  and  a  number  of  live  animals, 
lest,  when  the  waters  should  abate,  the  whole  race  would 
become  extinct.  Others  affirm  that  only  six  persons  were 
saved,  by  means  of  a  float,  or  raft;  and  that  from  them,  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  country  are  descended.  They  far- 
ther believe,  that  this  event  took  place  before  there  were 
any  Incas  or  kings  among  them,  and  when  the  country  was 
extremely  populous. 

The  Brazilians  not  only  preserve  the  traditions  of  a  flood, 
but  believe  that  the  whole  race  of  mankind  perished  in  it, 
except  one  man,  and  his  sister;  or,  according  to  others,  two 
brothers,  with  their  wives,  who  were  preserved  by  climb- 
ing the  highest  trees  on  their  loftiest  mountains;  and  who 
afterwards  became  the  heads  of  two  different  nations.  The 
memory  of  this  event,  they  are  even  said  to  celebrate,  in 
some  of  their  religious  anthems  or  songs. 

Acosta,  in  his  history  of  the  Indies,  says,  that  they  speak 
of  a  flood  in  their  country,  by  which  all  men  were  drowned ; 
and  that  their  country  was  afterwards  peopled  by  Viraca- 
cha,  who  came  out  of  the  lake  Titicaca ;  and  according  to 
Herrero,  the  Mechoacans,  a  people  comparatively  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Indian  Mexico,  had  a  tradition,  that  a  sin- 
gle family  was  formerly  preserved  in  an  ark,  amid  a  del- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          129 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

uge  of  waters ;  and  that  along  with  them,  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  animals  was  saved,  to  stock  the  new  world.  During 
the  time  that  they  were  shut  up  in  the  ark,  several  ravens 
were  sent  out;  one  of  which,  brought  back  the  branch  of 
a  tree. 

Among  the  Iroquois,  it  is  reported,  that  a  certain  Spirit, 
called  by  them  Otkon,  was  the  creator  of  the  world ;  and 
that  another,  called  Messou,  repaired  it,  after  a  deluge; 
which  happened  in  consequence  of  Otkon's  dogs  having, 
one  day,  when  he  was  hunting  with  them,  lost  themselves 
in  a  great  lake ;  which,  in  consequence  of  this,  overflowed 
its  banks,  and  in  a  short  time,  covered  the  whole  earth. 

Passing  now  to  the  Eastern  continent,  nearer  to  the  re- 
gion where  Noah  is  generally  supposed  to  have  lived,  we 
find  traditionary  history  respecting  the  flood,  still  more  par- 
ticular and  satisfactory.  According  to  Josephus,  there  were 
a  multitude  of  ancient  authors,  who  concurred  in  asserting, 
that  the  world  had  once  been  destroyed  by  a  flood.  "  This 
flood,"  says  he,  "and  the  ark,  are  mentioned  by  all  who 
have  written  Barbaic  histories;  one  of  whom,  is  Berosus, 
the  Chaldean.  Speaking  of  this  event,  he  affirms,  that  in 
Armenia,  upon  a  mountain  of  the  Corydeans,  part  of  the 
ship  was,  in  his  time,  even  yet  remaining.  It  is  a  custom 
to  scrape  from  it,  some  of  the  bitumen  with  which  it  was 
covered,  and  to  carry  it  about  their  persons,  as  a  talisman 
against  diseases.  Jerome,  the  Egyptian,  who  wrote  the 
ancient  history  of  Phrenicia,  and  Manaseas,  and  many 
others,  also  mention  these  facts. 

Nicolaus  Damascenus  relates  that  there  is  a  great 
mountain  in  Armenia,  situated  above  Minyas,  which  is 
called  Baris,  to  which  many  persons  fled,  at  the  time  of  the 
flood,  and  were  preserved.  One,  in  particular,  was  con- 
veyed in  an  ark,  to  the  very  summit  of  the  mountain,  and 
a  considerable  part  of  the  vessel,  in  his  time  still  remained. 
He,  we  think  was  very  probably,  at  least,  the  very  man  of 

whom  the  Jewish  lawgiver  Moses,  wrote. 
9 


130  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

Eusebius  informs  us,  that  Malo,  a  bitter'  enemy  of  the* 
Jews,  and  whose  testimony  is,  on  this  account,  peculiarly 
valuable,  takes  notice  of  the  person  who  was  saved,  along 
with  his  sons,  from  the  flood;  having  been,  after  his  pres- 
ervation, driven  away  from  Armenia,  whence  he  retired  to 
the  mountainous  parts  of  Syria. 

Abydenus,  after  giving  an  account  of  the  flood,  from 
which  Xisuthrus,  the  Chaldean  Noah,  was  saved;  concludes 
with  asserting,  in  exact  concurrence  with  Berosus,  that  the 
ark  first  rested  on  the  mountains  of  Armenia ;  and  that  its 
remains  were  used  by  the  natives  as  a  talisman.    And  Plu- 
tarch mentions  the  Noarchic  dove,  being  sent  out  of  the  ark, 
and  returning  to  it  again,  as  an  intimation  to  Ducalion,  that 
the  storm  had  not  yet  ceased.     But  this,  however,  is  by  no 
means  all  the  evidence  of  such  a  character.     Sir  William 
Jones,  speaking  of  one  of  the  Chinese  fables,  says,   "Al- 
though I  cannot  insist,  with  confidence,  that  the  rainbow, 
mentioned  in  it,  alludes  to  the  Mosaic  narrative  of  the  flood, 
nor  build  any  solid  argument  on  the  divine  person  Niu-vs, 
of  whose  character,  and  even  of  whose  sex,  the  historians 
of  China,  speak  very  doubtfully ;  I  may,  nevertheless,  as- 
sure you,  after  full  inquiry  and  consideration,  that  the  Chi- 
nese fully  believe  the  earth  to  have  been  wholly  covered 
with  water;  which,  in  works  of  undisputed  authority,  they 
describe  as  flowing  abundantly,  then  subsiding,  and  sepa- 
rating the  higher  from  the  lower  age  of  mankind  ;  that  the 
divisions  of  time,  from  which  their  poetical  history  begins, 
just  preceded  the  appearance  of  Fo-Hi,  in^he  mountains 
of  China;  but  that  the  great  inundation  in  the  reign  of 
Yao,  was  .confined  to  the  low  lands  of  his  kingdom.     If 
this  whole  account  be  not  a  fable;  or  if  it  contains  arjy  al- 
lusion to  the  flood  of  Noah,  it  has  been  ignorantly  misplaced 
fcy  the  Chinese  analists."     [This  is  the  account  given  by 
Sir  William  Jones,  in  his  "Asiatic  Researches,"  second 
vol.  on  the  Chinese.] 
The  account  giv«n  by  Plutarch,  of  the  Egyptian  Osiris. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          131 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

affords  some  ground  for  imagining,  that  he  also  is  the  same 
person  with  the  Noah  of  Moses.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
a  husbandman,  a  legislator,  and  a  zealous  advocate  for  the 
worship  of  the  gods.  Typhon,  having  conspired  against 
him,  and.  by  a  stratagem,  having  prevailed  on  him  to  en- 
ter into  an  ark,  which  was  immediately  closed  on  him;  he, 
in  this  situation,  floated  down  the  Nile,  into  the  sea.  Now, 
as  according  to  Plutarch,  Typhon,  is  merely  a  mythological 
personage  expressive  of  the  ocean ;  this  tradition  evidently 
signifies  nothing  more  than  that  the  character  called  Osiris, 
was  in  danger  from  the  sea ;  and  that  he  escaped  by  entering 
into  an  ark.  Nor  is  it  unworthy  of  notice,  that  he  is  said  to 
have  entered  this  vessel,  on  the  seventeenth  of  the  month 
Athyr,  which  precisely  agrees  with  the  day  of  the  patri- 
arch's embarkation,  previously  to  the  flood. . 

Plato  also  states,  that  a  priest  of  Sais,  declared  to  Solon, 
who  gave  laws  to  Athens,  forty  years;  that  previously  to  the 
partial  flood  of  Agyges,  Deucalion,  a  universal  one  had  ta- 
ken place,  in  which  the  original  constitution  of  the  earth  had 
undergone  a  great  change ;  perfectly  according,  you  see, 
with  the  threatening  given  by  Jehovah,  "  I  will  destroy 
the  inhabitants,  with  the  earth," — and  with  the  declara- 
tion, "all  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep,  were  broken  up."* 
It  is  no  doubt  true,  as  Diodorus  Siculus  asserts,  that  some 
of  the  Egyptians  maintained  that  the  flood  of  Deucalion,  was 
universal ;  but  this  discrepancy  must  be  easily  explained  by 
every  one  who  has  attended  to  the  confusion  which  frequent- 
ly attends  different  accounts  of  the  same  events,  and  must  be 
deemed  utterly  insufficient  to  invalidate  the  position,  that 
the  Egyptians  generally,  did  believe  in  a  universal  flood, 
A  similar  belief  prevailed  among  such  of  the  ancient  Per- 
sians, as  professed  to  hold  their  religion  in  its  ancient  pu- 

*These  "fountains,"  every  scholar  must  admit,  were  in  the  earth  ;  and  in 
all  parts  of  it :  breaking  them  up,  therefore,  was  nothing  less  than  a  break- 
ing up,  and  crushing  in,  towards  the  centre  of  the  earth,  in  wild  confusion, 
of  all  the  original  strata,  of  the  superincumbant  materials,  earth,  rocks, 
mines,  mountains,  &c.,  which  contained  these  fountains;  and  which  origi 
nally  constituted  this  little  globe. 


132          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

rity ;  though  some  sects  among  them,  like  the  Tom  Paine 
clubs  of  the  present  day,  denied  it  entirely ;  whilst  others 
maintained  that  it  was  only  partial. 

Zoroaster,  is  said  to  have  affirmed,  that  such  a  catas- 
trophe was  occasioned  by  the  wickedness,  and  diabolical 
arts  of  a  person  called  Malchus ;  and,  according  to  another 
of  their  authors,  Noah  himself,  dwelt  in  a  mountain,  from 
which  the  waters  of  the  flood  burst  forth ;  though,  by  the 
same  writer,  an  absurd  tradition  is  mentioned,  of  the  par- 
ticular place  from  which  they  issued.  [Persian  Hist.] 

Berosus,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Alexander,  and  wrote 
the  history  of  the  Babylonians,  relates,  that  the  universal 
flood,  happened  in  the  days  of  king  Xisuthrus;  who,  like 
Noah,  was  the  tenth,  in  descent,  from  the  first  created  man. 
Having  in  a  dream,  been  warned  by  Cronus,  or  Saturn,  of 
the  approaching  calamity,  he  was  commanded  to  build  an 
immense  ship,  and  embark  in  it,  with  his  wife,  his  children, 
and  his  friends ;  having  first  furnished  it  with  provisions, 
and  put  into  it  a  number  both  of  birds,  and  four-footed 
animals.  As  soon  as  these  preparations  were  completed,  the 
flood  commenced,  and  the  whole  world  perished  beneath  its 
waters.  After  it  began  to  abate,  Xisuthrus,  sent  forth  some 
of  the  birds,  which,  finding  neither  food,  nor  resting  place, 
returned  immediately  to  the  ship.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
days,  he  again  let  out  the  birds,  but  they  came  back  to  him 
having  therr  feet  covered  with  mud.  The  third  time,  how- 
ever, that  he  sent  them  out,  they  returned  no  more.  Con- 
cluding from  this,  that  the  flood  was  decreasing,  and  the 
earth  again  appearing,  he  made  an  aperture,  in  the  side  of 
the  vessel;  and  perceived  that  it  was  approaching  a  moun- 
tain, on  which  it  soon  after  rested ;  where  he  disembarked, 
with  his  family ;  adored  the  earth ;  built  an  altar ;  and  sac- 
rificed to  the  gods.  Xisuthrus,  having  now  suddenly  dis- 
appeared, his  family  heard  a  voice  in  the  air,  which  informed 
them  that  the  country  in  which  they  were,  was  Armenia, 
and  directed  them  to  return  to  Babylon. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND;OLD,"          133 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

Still  more  coincident,  even  than  this,  with  the  Mosaic 
^account,  is  the  Grecian  history  of  the  flood,  as  presented  by 
Lucian,  a  native  of  Samosatia,  on  the  Euphrates.  And  his 
authority  is  the  more  incontrovertible,  on  account  of  his 
being  an  avowed  derider  of  all  religions.  The  antediluvi- 
ans, according  to  him,  had  gradually  become  so  hardened 
and  profligate,  as  to  be  in  the  universal  practice  of  every 
species  of  injustice.  They  paid  no  regard  to  the  obligation 
of  oaths;  and  were  insolent,  inhospitable,  and  unmerciful; 
and  for  this  reason,  they  were  visited  with  an  awful  calam- 
ity. Suddenly  the  earth  poured  forth  a  vast  quantity  of 
water ;  and  the  rain  descended  in  torrents ;  the  rivers  over- 
flowed their  banks,  and  the  sea  rose  to  a  prodigous  height, 
"  so  that  all  things  became  water,  and  all  men  were  destroy- 
ed, except  Deucalion."  He  alone,  for  the  sake  of  his  pru- 
dence and  piety,  was  reserved  to  a  second  generation ;  and 
in  obedience  to  a  divine  monition,  he  entered,  with  his  sons 
and  their  wives,  into  a  large  ark,  which  he  had  built  for 
their  preservation ;  and  immediately,  swine,  and  horses, 
and  lions,  and  serpents,  and  all  other  animals  that  live  on 
the  earth,  came  to  him  by  pairs,  and  were  admitted  into  the 
ark.  There  they  became  perfectly  mild  and  innoxious,  their 
natures  being  changed  by  the  gods;  who  created  such  a 
friendship  between  them,  that  they  all  sailed  peacably  to- 
gether, so  long  as  the  waters  prevailed  over  the  surface  of 
the  globe.  Lucian  further  adds,  that  according  to  an  an- 
cient tradition,  at  Hierapolis,  in  Syria,  there  was  once,  in 
that  country,  a  great  chasm,  through  which  the  waters  of 
the  flood  descended ;  and  that  Deucalion  erected  altars,  and 
built  a  temple  to  Juno,  over  its  mouth.  This  aperture, 
under  the  temple,  he  declares  he  had  seen ;  though  it  was 
then  but  of  small  size ;  and  he  relates  a  ceremony  which 
took  place  twice  every  year,  in  memory  of  this  catastrophe. 
Vessels  full  of  water,  he  says,  were  brought  from  the  sea, 
not  only  by  the  priests,  but  by  the  inhabitants,  of  all  Syria, 
and  Arabia;  often  attended  also  by  multitudes  from  beyond 


134          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

the  Euphrates!  The  water  thus  brought,  was  poured  on 
the  floor  of  the  temple,  and  speedily  sunk  into  the  chasm ; 
which  small  as  it  was,  received  without  delay,  the  greatest 
quantity  of  water.  And  when  they  did  this,  the  people 
said,  that  Deucalion  himself,  had  appointed  it,  as  a  memo- 
rial of  the  flood,  and  of  his  own  deliverance  from  it. 

Scarcely  less  remarkable,  is  the  Hindoo  tradition,  with 
which  we  shall  conclude  the  present  exhibition  of  inductive 
testimony,  to  the  reality  and  universality  of  the  flood.  It 
is  contained  in  the  ancient  poem  of  Rhagavat;  and  forms 
the  subject  of  the  first  Purania,  entitled  Matsya,  or  the  Fish. 
The  following  is  an  abridgment  of  it;  and  the  identity  of 
the  event  which  it  describes,  with  that  of  the  Hebr«w  his- 
torian, Moses,  is  too  obvious  to  require  any  particular  illus- 
tration from  us.  It  runs:  "The  demon,  Hayagriva,  having 
purloined  the  Vedas  from  the  custody  of  Brahma,  while 
he  was  reposing  at  the  close  of  the  sixth  Manwantara,  the 
whole  race  of  men  became  corrupt,  except  the  seven  Ris- 
his,  and  Satyavrata,  who  then  reigned  in  Dravira,  a  mari- 
time region  in  the  south  of  Carnata.  This  prince  was  per- 
forming his  ablutions  in  the  river  Critamaia,  when  Vishnu 
appeared  to  him  in*  the  shape  of  a  small  fish ;  and,  after 
several  augmentations  of  bulk,  in  different  waters,  was 
placed  by  Satyavrata,  in  the  ocean,  where  he  thus  addressed 
his  amazed  votary :  '  In  seven  days,  all  creatures  who  have 
offended  me,  shall  be  destroyed  by  a  flood;  but  thou  shalt 
be  secured  in  a  capacious  vessel,  miraculously  formed; 
take,  therefore,  all  kinds  of  medicinal  herbs,  and  esculent 
grain  for  food,  and  together  with  the  seven  holy  men,  their 
respective  wives,  and  pairs  of  all  animals,  and  enter  the  ark 
without  fear;  then  shalt  thou  know  God  face  to  face,  and 
all  thy  questions  shall  be  answered.'  Saying  this,  he  dis- 
appeared; and  after  seven  days,  the  ocean  began  to  over- 
flow the  coasts,  and  the  earth  to  be  flooded  by  constant 
showers;  when  Satyavrata,  meditating  on  the  Deity,  saw 
a  large  vessel  moving  on  the  waters.  He  entered  it,  having 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          13fi 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

in  all  respects  conformed  to  the  instructions  of  Vishnu; 
who,  now,  in  the  form  of  a  vast  fish,  suffered  the  vessel  to 
be  tied  to  a  great  sea-serpent,  as  with  a  cable,  to  its  meas- 
ureless horn.  When  the  flood  had  ceased,  Vishnu  slew  the 
demon,  and  recovered  the  Vedas ;  and  instructed  Satyavra- 
ta  in  divine  knowledge,  and  appointed  him  the  seventh 
Menu,  by  the  name  of  Vaivaswata."  [History  of  the  Chro- 
rology  of  the  Hindoos.]  And,  according  to  the  Pauranies, 
and  the  followers  of  Buddha,  the  ark  rested  on  the  moun- 
tain of  Aryavaria,  or  India;  an  appellation  which  exhibits 
.  no  trifling  affinity  with  the  Ararat  of  scripture. 

We  are  now  amply  prepared  to  remark,  in  the  strain  of 
legitimate  inference.  When  we  thus  meet  with  traditions 
of  a  universal  flood,  in  the  annals  of  almost  every  country, 
though  the  persons  saved  from  it,  are  said,  in  those  various 
accounts,  to  have  resided  in  different  districts,  widely  sepa- 
rated from  each  other;  we  are  constrained  to  allow,  that 
such  a  general  concurrence  of  belief,  could  never  have 
originated  merely  from  accident.  While  the  mind  is  in 
this  situation,  scripture  comes  forward;  ajid  presents  a  nar- 
rative, more  simple,  better  connected,  and  bearing  an  iafi- 
nirely  greater  resemblance  to  authentic  history,  than  any 
of  those  mythological  accounts  which  occur  'in  the  tradi- 
tions of  Paganism ;  and  this  fact  immediately  and  irresista- 
bly,  flashes  a  conviction  upon  the  understanding  of  all  sin- 
cere and  intelligent  readers,  that  this  must  be  the  true  his- 
tory of  those  remarkable  facts,  which  other  nations  have 
handed  down  to  us,  only  through  the  medium  of  allegory 
and  fable.  Yes,  in  the  evidence  which  we  have  acTduced  in 
the  preceding  reviews,  the  moral  certainty  of  the  'Mosaic 
history  of  the  flood,  must  be  admitted,  by  all  logical  and 
intelligent  minds,  to  be  established  on  a  foundation,  which 
the  scepticism  of  the  combined  depravity  of  the  world, 
must  ever  assail  in  vain.  Yes,  let  the  ingenuity  of  unbe- 
lief, first  satisfactorily  account  for  this  universal  agreement 
of  the  Pagan  world;  and  then  she  may,  indeed,  with  a 


136          "THINSS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANSELICAL    BONUS. 

greater  degree  of  plausibility,  which  she  perishingly  needs, 
attempt  to  impeach  the  truth  of  the  scripture  account  o.' 
that  awful  visitation  of  a  universal  flood,  by  which  the 
human  race,  except  Noah  and  his  family,  were  destroyed. 

But  we  cannot  refrain  from  asking  the  reader's  attention, 
a  few  moments  longer,  to  what  we  will  call  a  brief  review 
of  geological  testimony,  in  support  of  that  of  Moses. 

Many  writers  have  undertaken  the  task  of  proving  that 
conclusive  evidence  of  the  flood,  and  of  a  change  in  the 
original  constitution  of  the  earth,  is  everywhere  furnished 
to  a  Christian  geologist,  by  the  appearance  of  the  surface 
of  the  earth.  Immense  blocks  of  stone,  of  the  same  quali- 
ties, are  found,  often  at  an  immense  distance  from  each 
other,  both  on  the  surface,  and  imbedded  in  the  earth ;  the 
bones  of  animals,  and  the  remains  of  plants,  are  found 
buried  in  regions  far  removed  from  their  original  stale;  and 
even  in  solid  rock,  formed  since  the  flood,  both  animal  and 
vegetable  substances  abound,  proclaiming,  loud  as  thunder, 
the  breaking  up  of  the  original  stratum,  and  the  original 
arrangement  of  the  materials  which  compose  our  little 
globe!  We  know  well,  however,  that  disputes  have  arisen 
among  writers,  called  philosophers,  and  Christians,  too, 
respecting  the  reference  of  these  appearances,  to  the  flood ; 
and  that  therefore 

"They  have  often  strained  themselves  to  bursting,  nigh," 

in  attempting  to  prove,  that  all  these  things  may  be  ac- 
counted for  by  natural  causes.  However,  we  are  only  de- 
sirous, on  this  occasion,  to  call  the  attention  of  such  of  our 
readers»as  are  scientifically  and  geologically  engaged  and 
inclined,  by  presenting,  in  a  very  brief  manner,  the  opinions 
of  some  few  of  those  who  are  worthy  cf  notice,  and  who 
have  written  in  this  wide  and  interesting  field  of  inquiry. 
One  writer  [M.  De  Saussure]  informs  us,  that  while  he 
was  examining  the  Alps  of  Switzerland,  he  was  forcibly 
struck  by  the  appearance  of  blocks  of  granite,  which  had 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          137 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

evidently  belonged  to  the  central  ridge;  yet,  now,  lying 
there,  scattered  on  the  surrounding  mountains,  and  on  the 
neighboring  valleys !  To  remove  these  blocks  from  their 
parent  rock,  (poor-blind  philosopher ! )  and  to  transport 
them  across  deep  and  wide  ravines,  and  over  the  summits 
of  lofty  intervening  mountains,  seemed  to  him  to  require 
an  agent  of  no  created  power.  And  the  transportation  of 
these  blocks,  Saussure  had  the  folly  to  ascribe  to  a  vast 
torrent,  which  he  imagined  had,  at  a  very  remote  period, 
swept  the  earth,  overtopping  the  Alps,  and  carrying  im- 
mense masses  of  the  rocks  along  with  it!  To'  this  supposed 
torrent,  he  applies  the  term  debacle,  a  French  word,  which 
is  sometimes  made  use  of,  to  denote  the  clearing  of  a  har- 
bor, by  setting  at  liberty  a  large  collection  of  water,  to 
sweep  away  the  alluvial  matter  obstructing  it.  Our  Eng- 
lish word,  deluge,  here,  in  our  definition  of  it,  we  consider 
more  happily  adapted  to  express  the  extent  and  power  of 
such  a  torrent  as  would  be  necessary  to  produce  such  ef- 
fects as  he  describes.  But,  another  writer  admits  the  de- 
bacle of  Saussure,  yet  he  ascribes  the  position  of  the  blocks 
of  granite,  to  a  cause  which  could  have  found  a  place  only 
in  the  most  frivalous  and  fantastic  imagination ;  and  which, 
therefore,  we  will  not  present  in  our  review.  Yet,  we  will 
add,  neither  of  these  philosophers  appears  to  have  digested 
his  ideas  of  a  deluge,  so  perfectly,  as  to  have  warranted 
his  entering  upon  any  attempt  to  explain  its  cause,  or  even 
affording  any  precise  idea  of  their  notions  respecting  the 
operations  of  their  imagined  agent,  when  actually  exercised. 
One  writer,  [Pallas]  ascribes  the  production  of  the  flood, 
which  he  supposes  transported  the  remains  of  animals  from 
one  climate  to  another,  to  the  action  of  volcanoes  under  the 
sea.  These  speculations  remained  unnoticed  for  a  consid- 
erable time;  at  length,  however,  the  subject  was  brought 
before  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  [by  Sir  James  Hall] 
in  a  form  more  happily  calculated  to  command  attention. 
That  gentleman  however,  for  many  years  employed  him- 


138  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

self,  in  tracing  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  legitimate  effects 
of  a  powerful  torrent,  which  at  some  period  or  other  has 
swept  across  Scotland,  from  West  to  East.  He  however, 
confined  his  attention  and  researches  to  the  vicinity  of  Ed- 
inburgh ;  and  accurately  pointed  out  various  places,  where 
scratches  and  furrows  on  the  top  of  the  rock  are  still  to  be 
seen  ;  and  which  those  who  have  examined  them,  consider 
interesting  topics  of  inquiry.  And  these  effects  were  as- 
cribed, by  Sir  William  Jones,  himself,  to  the  attrition  of  the 
rocks  carried  along  by  some  partial  flood.  And  whoever 
examines  the  deep  mass  of  gravel,  sand,  stones  and  clay, 
which,  in  almost  every  part  and  portion  of  country,  covers 
the  surface  of  the  rock  beneath,  must  acknowledge  imme- 
diately, that  this  superincumbent  mass  was  at  some  period 
deposited  by  water.  Hut  still,  with  respect  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  water  operated,  widely  different  opinions  have 
been  entertained.  This  subject,  only  fifty  years  since, 
however,  did  not  seem  to  be  of  primary  importance  to  phys- 
iologists of  many  of  the  schools  in  either  Great  Britain  or 
Europe.  The  followers  of  Mr.  Hutton,  who  wrote  upon  it 
in  a  somewhat  interesting,  but  by  no  means,  satisfactory 
manner,  have  been  of  very  different  opinions ;  and  while 
some  of  them  assert,  that  the  ordinary  diurnal  operations 
of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  action  of  rivers,  are  sufficient 
to  account  for  all  that  has  been  observed ;  others  of  a  little 
more  plain,  common  sense  philosophy,  graciously  beg  leave 
to  maintain  that  something  more  was  required.  One  writer 
[Sir  J.  Hall]  appeals  to  the  efforts  of  subterraneous  heat, 
acting  under  compression,  as  supposed  by  Dr.  Hatter,  and 
endeavors  to  illustrate  the  mode  in  which  he  imagines  a 
wave  or  torrent  of  water  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  have 
been  produced,  to  have  accomplished  all  these  things.  We 
believe  it  to  be  now  generally  admitted,  that  concussions  of 
the  earth,  are  produced  by  the  exertion  of  an  electric  and 
elastic  fluid  bursting  the  rocks  which  confined  it.  Sir  J. 
Hall,  supposes  that  such  an  exertion,  by  heaving  up  the 


« THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  139 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

superincumbent  mass,  and  displacing  a  body  of  water, 
which  would  be  also  impelled  upwards  by  the  concussion, 
would  doubtless  produce  a  wave  on  the  surface  of  the  sea. 
An  earthquake,  felt  on  the  coast,  every  one  knows,  who 
has  witnessed  it,  is  first  attended  by  a  retreating  of  the 
water  from  the  shore :  an  effect  which  has  been  readily 
accounted  for,  by  the  rising  of  the  wave  in  the  sea,  imme- 
diately above  the  place  where  the  subterranean  force  ex- 
erted itself.  After  such  a  retreat  from  the  shore,  the  water 
returns  with  great  violence,  and  overwhelms  everything  in 
its  progress.  Such  effects  have  been  illustrated  and  estab- 
lished as  facts,  during  the  earthquakes  at  Cadis,  Lisbon, 
Calao,  «fec.,  &c.  But  the  most  remarkable,  and  which  ap- 
plies most  perfectly  in  illustration  of  the  foregoing  ideas,  is 
that  related  by  Humbolt,  of  a  large  tract  of  ground,  ex- 
tending to  three  or  four  square  miles,  called  the  Malpays,  in 
South  America,  having  been  raised  during  an  earthquake, 
to  the  height  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet.  Now, 
such  an  occurrence  might  have  happened  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sea,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  similar  consequences 
would  have  followed.  Experiment  has  been  resorted  to 
by  some,  and  by  exploding  gunpowder  under  water,  they 
Jiave  succeeded  to  produce,  in  minature,  precisely  the 
same  effects  which  we  might  suppose  would  follow  the 
concussion  of  an  earthquake  in  the  sea.  Having  thus 
attempted  to  explain  the  operation  by  which  such  a  vast 
wave,  or  torrent,  sufficient  to  overtop  the  mountains, 
might  be  raised,  Sir  James  called  in  the  aid  of  glaciers,  to 
assist  in  transporting  large  masses  of  stone  from  one  place 
to  another.  It  is  well  known,  that  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps, 
and  the  icebergs  formed  every  winter  at  the  mouths  of  our 
large  northward  rivers  and  bays,  envelope  immense  collec- 
tions of  stones  or  rocks.  It  is  supposed  that  if  a  torrent, 
like  the  one  under  consideration,  were  to  break  it  up,  the 
ice  would  of  course  float  furiously  along  with  its  load,  and 
deposite  it  gradually,  as  it  advanced  and  melted.  There 


140          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

are  enormous  blocks  of  granite  on  the  shores  of  the  Baltic, 
and  along  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  in  the  northern  parts 
of  our  own  country,  which  it  is,  by  some,  most  unwisely, 
supposed  are  to  be  accounted  for  only  in  this  way,  as  well 
as  those  of  the  Alps  in  Switzerland. 

We  of  course,  shall  not  inquire  into  the  hydrostatical 
accuracy  of  fhis  theory,  with  reference  here  to  the  general 
deluge;  it  is  not  our  appropriate  province;  but  we  will 
state,  as  a  matter  of  speculative  entertainment,  that  an  op- 
eration, the  very  reverse  of  this,  would  produce  a  wave, 
or  torrent,  without  any  deviation  from  the  laws  of  hydro- 
statics ;  and  account  for  all  the.  appearances  observed  in 
earthquakes  by  our  wise  philosophers.  Instead  of  the  land 
rising,  we  may  suppose  it  to  burst,  and  lay  open  extensive 
hollows,  into  which,  of  course,  the  water  would  rush  with 
irresistible  violence, 'filling  up  the  vacuum  occasioned  by 
the  escape  or  condensation  of  the  elastic  vapors  which 
caused  the  fracture.  Powerful  currents  would  instantly 
be  produced,  and  all  tending  to  a  centre;  and  the  velocity 
acquired  would  be  such,  that  after  the  vacuity  was  filled, 
the  conjunction  and  collision  of  so  many  currents  at  one 
point,  must  raise  the  water  to  an  appalling  height !  There- 
fore, we  see,  the  retreat  of  water  from  the  shore  might  be 
explained  as  well  in  this  way,  as  by  supposing  the  bottom' 
of  the  sea  to  have  been  raised.  The  heaving  of  a  mass  of 
land  entirely  out  of  the  sea,  or  its  sudden  submersion, 
would  also  produce  great  agitation  in  the  water;  and  in 
every  case  the  operation  of  subterranean  heat,  in  producing 
elastic  vapor,  would  be  retained.  Professor  Playfair,  the 
able  illustrator  of  the  Huttonian  theory,  differs  widely  from 
all  those  who  are  disposed  to  call  in  the  aid  of  extraordina- 
ry causes  and  effects,  to  account  for  the  enormous  collec- 
tions of  loose  heterogeneous  materials,  which  for  the  most 
part,  form  the  surface  of  the  land. 

At  the  time  when  Mr.  Playfair  wrote,  however,  the  sub- 
ject had  not  been  fully  stated  by  any  of  those  writers  who 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  141 

TO   DIVERSE,    NOTABLE   FOOLS    AND   ASSES. 

attribute  these  mysterious  appearances  to  a  partial  flood  ; 
and  he  acknowledges  that  he,  had  been  combating  an  un- 
seen enemy.  But,  Sir  J.  Hall,  has  since  stated  one  side  of 
the  question;  yet  he  has  not  by  any  means  exhausted  the 
facts  and  arguments,  which  tend  to  corroborate  the  opinion, 
that  a  universal  deluge,  has  since  the  creation,  changed  the 
entire  face  and  original  sub terranian  structure  of  this  globe, 
and  caused  that  arrangement  of  its  surface  which  we  now 
observe.  But  he  has  done  much  better  than  some  of  our 
Professors  upon  this  subject,  or  any  other  of  the  geological 
writers,  of  the  dubious  Christian  character,  who  have  given 
us  their  views  of  the  subject.  There  are  many  regions  of 
country,  to  which  we,  ourselves,  can  point,  which  furnish 
facts,  which  quite  as  strongly  support  the  doctrine  advo- 
cated by  us,  as  those  which  we  have  given ;  but  our  time 
is  exhausted,  and  such  an  effort  would  be  unnecessary  to 
produce  the  conviction  of  such  a  fact  in  the  minds  of  in- 
telligent readers. 

But  John  Pye  Smith,  D.  D.,  London,  tutor  in  the  Protest- 
ant Dissenting  College  at  Homerton,  an  apologist  for  mod- 
ern Geological  science,  falsely  so  called ;  and,  for  that  thing, 
called  " philosophy"  which  is  nought  but  vain  deceit;  has 
recently  published  a  book,  which  he  has  named  "Scripture 
and  Geology;"  and  which,  without  controversy,  as  he 
seems  to  profess  to  be  a  Christian  believer,  is  one  of  the 
most  rampant  of  the  humbugs  of  modern  times.  In  soph- 
istry, he  must  be  admitted  to  have  almost  equalled  the  skill 
of  Jefferson  or  Calhoun ;  and  in  absurdity,  surpassed  them 
both.  Without  the  least  apparent  reluctance,  he,  by  his 
spurious  exegesis,  and  rules  of  interpretation,  compels  the 
earth,  to  testify  against  the  whole  written  Word,  of  her 
Creator  ;  concerning  the  origin-  of  time  —  the  period  occu- 
pied in  the  formation  of  this  visible  world  —  the  extent  of 
the  deluge,  &c.,  &c. ;  and  yet,  assures  his  readers,  that  all 
such  testimony  is  most  easily  reconcileable,  with  the  testi- 
mony of  God,  as  given  by  his  servant  Moses  ! ! !  Pro  Pu- 


142          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

det !  Pudet ! ! !  We  are  sober,  reader,  —  we  give  you  the 
precise  language  of  this,  as  we  call  him,  in  our  view,  Infi- 
del harlequin.  It  runneth  flippantly  enough,  indeed :  "I 
have  now  reached  the  point  at  which,  from  the  beginning 
of  these  lectures,  I  have  been  aiming.  I  speak  my  own 
conviction,  and  I  trust  I  have  brought  forward  sufficient 
evidence  to  support  that  conviction,  that  the  alleged  dis- 
crepance between  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  discoveries 
of  scientific  investigation,  [meaning  the  discoveries  of  mod- 
ern infidel  geologists,]  is  not  in  reality;  but  in  semblance 
only :  in  particular,  that  the  Scriptures  fairly  interpreted, 
are  not  adverse  to  a  belief  in  an  immeasurably  high  an- 
tiquity of  the  earth; — in  the  reference  of  .the  '  six  days' 
work,'  to  a  part  only,  of  the  earth's  surface; — in  the  posi- 
tion of  there  being  several  centuries  of  creation,  distinct 
from  each  other,  on  the  surface  of  the  globe ;  —  in  the  reign 
of  death  over  the  inferior  animals,  from  the  earliest  exist- 
ence of  organized  earthly  beings;  — and  in  a  limited  extent 
of  the  deluge,  which  swept  away  the  remnant  of  a  self- 
destroying  race,  saving  one  family ! ! !  " 

That  a  professed  Christian,  of  any  tolerable  share  of  in- 
telligence, should  be  left  to  express  himself  with  such  ap- 
parent exultation,  on  the  subject  before  us,  is  passing  all 
the  "wonderfuls"  of  even  Don  Quixotism!  He  again 
says,  in  his  preface : 

"It  involves  no  disrespect  to  the  multitude  of  pious  and 
respectable  persons,  to  say,  that  they  cannot  form  -an  inde- 
pendent opinion  upon  many  subjects  in  natural  philosophy. 
It  is  no  dishonor  to  accept  the  conclusions  of  NEWTON,  and 
his  followers,  though  we  confess  ourselves  unable  to  read 
the  Principia."  We  add,  from  this  extraordinary  Christian 
tutor,  (and  we  have  long  known  his  huge  report  as  a  critic,) 
only  one  more  of  his  long-eared  lucubrations.  It  runneth 
thus :  "  I  cannot  imagine  any  motive  but  the  excellent  one 
of  veneration  for  the  Bible,  that  can  induce  a  pious  mind 
to  feel  satisfied  with  the  idea,  which  attributes  to  the  first 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD/'          143 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

exercise  of  creating  power,  a  date  so  recent  as  six  or  seven 
thousand  years  ago."  Very  likely,  Dr.  Pye — this  is  in 
good  keeping  with  all  thy  other  nations.  Good  bye,  sir ! 
If  it  be  worth  saving,  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  thy  soul ! 
Amen. 


SEEMON  VII. 

II  THESSALONIANS,  II  — 3. 
AND  THAT  MAN  OF  SIN  BE  REVEALED,  THE  SON  OF  PERDITION. 

READER:  Though  it  be  our  principal  object,  in  the  ensuing 
discourse,  to  give  a  faithful  exhibition  of  the  character, 
works,  and  destiny  of  the  "  Man  of  Sin,"  so  named  by  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  though  we  might  proceed  and  execute 
our  object,  on  the  authority  of  the  single  clause  which  we 
have  selected  for  our  text ;  yet,  from  certain  other  relative 
considerations,  we  deem  it  proper  and  highly  important, 
here  to  introduce  the  whole  passage,  with  which  it  pleased 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  connect  it,  commencing  with  the  first 
verse  of  the  chapter  in  which  it  is  contained. 

"Now  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the  coming  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  our  gathering  together  unto  him, 
That  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind,  or  be  troubled,  neither 
by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor  by  letter  as  from  us ;  as  that  the 
Day  of  Christ  is  at  hand.  Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any 
means :  for  thai  day  shall  not  come,  except  there  come  a  fall- 
ing away  first,  and  that  man  of  sin  be  revealed,  the  son  of 
perdition :  Who  opposeth  and  exalteth  himself  above  all 
that  is  called  God,  or  that  is  worshipped  ;  so  that  he  as  God, 
sittethin  the  temple  of  God,  shewing  himself  that  he  is  God. 
Remember  ye  not,  that  when  I  was  yet  with  you  I  told  you 
these  things?  And  now  ye  know  what  withholdeth,  that  he 
might  be  revealed  in  his  time.  For  the  mystery  of  iniquity 
10 


146         "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

doth  already  work:  only  he  who  now  letteth,  will  lei,  until 
he,  be  taken  out  of  the  way. 

"And  then  shall  that  Wicked,  be  revealed,  whom  the 
Lord  shall  consume  with  the  spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  shall 
destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his  coming :, even  him,  whose 
coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all  power,  and 
signs,  and  lying  wonders ;  and  with  all  deceivableness  of 
unrighteousness  in  them  that  perish ;  because  they  received 
not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they  might  be  saved.  And 
for  this  cause,  God  shall  send  them  strong  delusion,  that 
they  should  believe  a  lie;  that  they  all  might  be  damned, 
who  believed  not  the  truth,  but  had  pleasure  in  unrighte- 
ousness." 

At  such  a  time  as  the  present,  when  efforts  are  making 
in  almost  every  section  of  our  country,  by  professed  Catho- 
lics, and  by  some  misguided  high  churchmen,  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  to  disseminate  through  their  Oxford  tracts, 
and  through  other  mediums,  the  principles  of  the  Roman 
Church,  which  is  the  thing  called  in  our  text.  "  The  Man 
of  Sin,"  to  decry  and  misrepresent  that  blessed  Reforma- 
tion of  the  sixteenth  century,  which  first  scattered  light  and 
liberty  throughout  Europe;  and  which  is  the  grand  source, 
under  God,  of  all  the  varied  blessings  and  privileges  which 
Protestants  enjoy,  in  any  region  of  the  globe.  Yes !  When 
an  association  of  Churchmen  in  Great  Britain,  are  diffusing 
the  above  mentioned  tracts,  &c.,  in  every  direction  —  and 
when  it  is  manifest  that  this  association  receives  the  coun- 
tenance and  aid  of  many  of  the  leading  characters  of  the 
New  School  party,  and  of  some  of  the  dignitaries  of  the 
American  Episcopal  Church ;  though  we  are  happy  to  find 
it  discountenanced  by  others;  it  is  certainly  high  time  for 
the  true  friends  of  the  Protestant  Reformation,  friends  of 
the  Bible  —  of  its  doctrines  —  its  influence,  and  its  univer- 
sal circulation,  —  to  take  Bible  measures  to  counteract  the 
baneful  errors,  the  pernicious  effects,  and  demoralizing  con- 
sequences of  a  false,  a  tyrannical,  and  diabolical  power. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          147 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

But  here,  let  no  one,  say  we  are  dealing  unfairly,  in  the 
plan  we  have  adopted,  to  reveal  the  character,  works,  and 
destiny,  of  the  "  Man  of  Sin."  Our  blessed  Saviour,  him- 
self, has  ruled,  with  direct  reference  too,  to  this  very  power ; 
"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  These  "  fruits  "  are 
furnished  and  shown  by  history.  And  God,  himself,  can- 
not make  that,  not  to  be,  which  has  been\  and'is  already,  a 
part  of  the  record  of  his  providence. 

Indeed,  in  a  country  so  enlightened  as  Great  Britain, 
where  the  press  is  so  free,  and  discussion  so  unrestrained, 
is  it  not  wonderful,  that  men  should  be  found  there,  who 
readily  countenance  a  system  of  imposture  —  a  system,  as 
we  shall  see,  revolting  to  common  sense,  and  the  plainest 
principles  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  ?    Is  it  not,  we  solemnly 
ask,  most  astonishing,  that  men  of  any  pretensions  to  learn- 
ing and  intelligence,  to  say  nothing  of  Christians  in  both 
Britain  and  America,  should  stand  forth,  at  this  day,  and 
advocate  a  system  of  form,  parade ;  of  mere  external  pomp ; 
instead  of  that  contained  in  the  Bible,  which  tends  to  purify 
the  affections,  to  enlighten  the  understanding,  to  make  men 
better  citizens,  better  fathers,  better  husbands,  better  wives, 
better  children,  and  better  servants?    In  a  word,  a  system 
which  expands  the  heart  with  benevolence,  and  which  in- 
duces us  to  consecrate  our  time,  talents,  influence,  and 
property,  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  our  fellow 
mortals  ?     Yes.  it  is  wonderful,  that  such  men  should  be 
found,  who,  through  a  strange  obliquity  of  mind,  mani- 
festly under  the  influence  of  the  prince  of  darkness,  decry- 
ing the  Protestant  reformation;  setting  themselves,  at  once, 
against  its  pure  and  sound  principles,  and  taking  an  open, 
unblushing  stand  in  favor  of  the  exploded  and  soul-de- 
stroying, God- accursed  principles  of  Popery?     This,  as- 
suredly, is  a  most  marvelous  fact,  for  Christians  to  contem- 
plate, who  live  in  the  nineteenth  century.     It  baffles  all  the 
calculations  of  common  sense  and  enlightened  reason ! ! ! 
For  what  has  been  the  opinion  of  the  public  in  Great  Britain, 


148          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

with  respect  to  the  character  of  this  Man  of  Sin  and  Son  of 
Perdition?  In  order  to  ascertain  the  state  of  public  opinion 
there,  respecting  this  matter  of  the  dangerous  influence  of 
the  church  of  Rome,  it  is  only  necessary  for  us  to  revert, 
at  our  leisure,  to  the  many  excellent  works  which  her 
best  writers  have  given  us,  on  this  awful  subject.  Since 
the  revolution  of  1688,  the.  British  Protestant  clergy,  from 
the  highest  to  the  lowest,  until  recently,  have  been  all  ar- 
dent friends  and  advocates  of  the  reformation  and  its  prin- 
ciples. 

But  leaving  these  topics,  we  proceed  to  exhibit  the  char- 
acter, works,  and  destiny  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  as  drawn  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  illustrated  by  history;  and  in  the  first 
place,  we  inquire,  does  not  most  credible  and  authentic  his- 
tory inform  us,  that  there  now  exists,  and  has  existed  dur- 
ing all  preceding  ages,  from  the  days  of  Abel,  as  declared 
by  the  Lord  Jesus,  a  tyranical,  idolatrous,  and  blasphe- 
mous power,  in  pretense,  Christian,  but,  in  reality,  anti- 
Christian1?  This,  no  Christian  scholar  will  deny.  And 
this  is  the  very  power,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  which  is  portrayed  in  the  little  horn  and  the 
blasphemous  king,  by  the  phrophet  Daniel; — in  the  man 
of  sin  —  the  son  of  perdition,  by  Paul;  and,  in  the  ten 
horned  beast,  or  the  false  prophet,  by  John.  We  have, 
therefore,  now  found  our  "Maw." 

Does  not  most  credible  and  authentic  history,  inform  us, 
that  the  church,  professed  believers,  have  often  apostatized, 
or  departed  greatly  from  the  purity  of  Christian  faith  and 
worship?  This  is  the  same  thing  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
declares,  through  the  Apostle,  in  II  Thessa.  ii.  3:  "The 
day  of  the  Lord,  shall  not  come,  except  there  come  a  fal- 
ling away,  or  an  apostacy,  first."  And  he  saith,  moreo- 
ver, in  another  place,  (I  Tim.  iv.  1,)  that  thespirit  of 
prophecy  (meaning  Daniel)  had,  in  express  words,  testi- 
fied the  same  thing  before.  .  Now,  the  spirit  saith,  express- 
ly, that  in  the  latter  times,  some  shall  depart  from  the 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  149 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

faith,  or  rather  apostatize  from  the  faith.  And  John,  il- 
luminated by  the  Holy  Ghost,  foresaw  the  church  so  far 
degenerated,  as  to  become  (Rev.  xvii.  5)  the  mother  of 
harlots,  or  whoredoms,  and  abominations  of  the  earth. 

Does  not  most  credible  and  authentic  history  inform  us, 
that  this  apostacy  consists  chiefly  in  the  worshipping  of 
demons,  angels,  and  departed  saints,  and  in  honoring  them 
with  costly  shrines,  and  rich  offerings ;  instead  of  the  wor- 
ship of  the  one  true  God,  through  the  one  true  Mediator 
between  God  and  man — the  man  Christ  Jesus?  Now 
nothing  can  better,  correspond  to,  and  agree  with,  the  dec- 
laration of  Paul;  (I  Tim.  iv.  I)  he  says,  some  shall  apos- 
tatize from  the  faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits,  and 
doctrines  concerning  devils;  and  it  agrees  equally  with  the 
prophecy  of  Daniel,  (xi.  38)  that  the  blasphemous  king,  in 
his  estate,  shall  honor  Mahuzzim  —  a  word  denoting  God's 
protectors,  or  saints'  protectors  —  and  a  God  whom  his  fa- 
thers knew  not,  shall  he  honor  with  gold,  and  silver,  and 
with  precious  stones,  arid  pleasant  things. 

Does  not  history  show,  that  the  same  church,  which  is 
guilty  of  this  idolatry,  is  notorious,  also,  for  enjoining  celi- 
bacy to  her  clergy  ?  and  engaging  her  nuns  to  enter  into 
vows  of  leading  a  single  life?  And  th.at  she  makes  a  vain 
distinction  of  meats;  and  that  she  commands  and  institutes 
without  any  warrant  from  the  word  of  God,  certain  times 
and  days  of  fasting,  and  penance,  wherein  to  take  flesh, 
is  judged  to  be  a  mortal  sin?  Here,  again,  nothing  could 
more  fully  accomplish  the  prediction  of  Daniel,  (xi.  37,) 
that  the  blasphemous  king,  who  shall  worship  Mahuzzim, 
shall  also  not  regard  the  desire  of  wives:  and  the  predic- 
tion of  Paul,  (I  Tim.  iv.  3.)  that  those  who  shall  aposta- 
tize from  the  faith,  by  the  worshipping  of  demons,  shall  no 
less  distinguish  themselves  by  forbidding  to  marry;  and 
commanding  to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God  hath  cre- 
ated to  be  received  with  thanksgiving  of  all  them  who  be- 
lieve and  know  the  truth.  * 


\ 


150          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

Does  not  history  show,  that  the  Pope  makes  himself 
equal  and  even  superior,  to  God,  by  affecting  Divine  titles, 
attributes,  and  honors ;  and  that  he  assumes  a  power  of 
dispensing  with  the  immutable  laws  of  nature  and  the  Gos- 
pel, in  substituting  for  the  commandments  of  God,  the  tra- 
ditions of  men?  That  he  tramples  the  altar  of  God,  at 
his  inauguration,  and  makes  even  the  table  of  the  im- 
maculate God,  his  footstool ;  and,  in  that  posture,  receives 
the  adoration  of  his  brutish  cardinals?  You  know,  also,  this 
is  foretold  by  Daniel,  (vii.  25,)  that  the  little  horn  shall  speak 
great  words  against  the  Most  High,  and  think  to  change 
times  and  laws.  [He  now  thinks  to  do  this  in  our  coun- 
try !]  And  again  Daniel  says,  this  little  horned  king 
shall  do  according  to  his  will;  and  he  shall  exalt  him- 
self, and  magnify  himself  above  every  god,  and  speak 
marvellous  things  against  the  GOD  of  gods;  and  in  like 
manner,  it  illustrates  the  language  of  Paul,  (II  Thes.  ii.  3 

—  4,)  that  man  of  sin  shall  be  revealed,  the  son  of  perdi- 
tion ;  who  opposeth  and  exalteth  himself  above  all  that  is 
called  God,  or  that  is  worshipped ;  so  that  he,  as  God,  sit- 
teth  in  the  temple  of  God,  showing  himself  that  he  is  God ! 

Again,  does  not  history  show,  that  the  bishops  of  Rome 
have  extended  their  authority  and  jurisdiction  over  several 
countries  and  nations ;  that  they  have  usurped  a  supremacy 
over  all  other  bishops?  that  they  have,  partly  by  menaces, 
and  partly  by  flatteries,  often  obtained  an  entire  ascendency 
over  Christian  princes;  so  as  to  make  them  zealous  mem- 
bers of  their  communion  —  blindly  devoted  to  their  interest 

—  and  ready  afterwards  on  all  occasions,  to  fight  their  bat- 
tles?    Listen  American  Christians,  and  beware!     For  all 
this,  was  nothing  more  than  was  foretold  by  the  Prophets, 
and  particularly  by  Daniel,  when  he  said  (vii.  J20,)  that  the 
little  horn,  had  a  mouth  speaking  very  great  things;  and  a 
look  more  stout  than  his  fellows  —  and  also  by  John,  when 
he  said,    (Rev.  xiii.  7,)   that  power  was  given  unto  the 
beast,  over  all  kindreds  and  tongues  and  nations — and  in 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  151 

TO    DIVERSE,    NOTABLE    FOOLS    AND   ASSES. 

(xvii.  2.)  the  kings  of  the  earth  have  committed  fornication, 
or  idolatry,  with  the  whore  of  Babylon  —  and  in  (xvii.  13,) 
have  one"  mind,  and  shall  give  their  power  and  strength 
unto  the  beast!!!  When  we  re§ad,  we  tremble  at  the 
prospect. 

Doth  not  history  show,  that  the  Hierarchy  of  Rome,  has 
often,  enlarged  the  powers  of  her  clergy,  both  regular  and 
secular  I  That  she  often  has  given  them  an  almost  abso- 
lute authority  over  the  purses  and  consciences  of  men  — 
that  she  has  enriched  them  with  the  most  sumptuous  palaces 
and  not;Ifi  endowments;  and  appropriated  the  choicest  of 
the  lands  to  themselves]  This  was  plainly  intimated  by 
Daniel,  speaking  of  the  blasphemous  king,  (xi.  39,)  thus 
shall  he  do  —  to  the  defenders  of  Mahuzzim,  together  with 
the  strange  god,  whom  he  shall  acknowledge,  he  shall  mul- 
tiply honor  ;  and  he  shall  cause  them  to  rule  over  many, 
and  shall  divide  the  land  for  gain. 

Doth  not  history  show,  that  the  Church  of  Rome  is  dis- 
tinguished above  all  congregations  called  churches,  for  pur- 
ple and  scarlet  color;  by  the  richness  and  splendor  of  her 
vestments  —  by  the  pomp  and  parade  of  her  ceremonies! 
that  she  entices  and  enveighels  men,  women  and  children, 
with  all  artifices  of  ornament  and  ostentation,  to  join  in 
her  communion?  This  was  definitely  specified  by  John, 
speaking  of  the  mystic  whore  of  Babylon,  or  the  corrupted 
church,  (xvii.  4,)  and  the  woman  was  arrayed  in  purple 
and  scarlet  colour,  and  depked  with  gold  and  precious 
stones  and  pearls,  having  a  golden  cup  in  her  hand,  full  of 
abominations  and  filtliiness  of  her  fornications!!! 

Doth  not  history  show,  that  the  Hierachy  of  Rome, 
in  all  ages,  have  been  remarkable  for  their  policy;  that 
they  have  not  scrupled  to  promote  their  religion  by  all 
manner  of  lies,  and  what  they  call,  pious  frauds;  that  they 
have  allowed  and  taught,  by  precept  and  example,  of  men- 
tal reservation  and  equivocation  even  in  solemn  oaths  and 
promises?  and  all  this  while,  assumed  the  appearance  of 


152          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

lambs,  in  meekness,  and  sanctity;  while  they  acted  like  rav- 
ening wolves,  with  violence  and  fury?  Daniel  gives  these 
characteristics,  in  the  little  horn,  (vii.  8.)  Behold,  in  this 
horn,  were  eyes  like  the  eyes  of  a  man;  and  a  mouth  speak- 
ing great  things  —  and  Paul  also,  does  the  same,  of  these 
apostates  in  latter  times,  (I.  Tim.  iv.  2,)  he  says,  speaking 
lies  in  hypocrisy,  having  their  conscience  seared,  as  with  a 
hot  iron ;  and  John,  under  the  image  of  the  two  horned 
beast,  (xiii.  11,)  And  I  beheld  another  beast  coming  up  out 
of  the  earth,  and  he  had  two  horns  like  a  lamb;  but  he 
spake  as  a  dragon  ! !  ! 

Doth  not  history  show  that  the  church  of  Rome  boasts  of 
visions  and  revelations,  and  makes  a  show  of  miracles,  to 
beguile  the  people?  Do  not  her  legends  already,  contain 
an  account  of  more  spurious,  and  pretended  wonders,  in  at- 
testation of  her  dogmas,  than  the  scriptures  do  of  genuine 
and  real  ?  With  respect  to  this  —  from  Paul  we  learn, 
(II.  Thes.  ii.  9,  10,)  that  the  coming,  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  is 
after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all  power,  and  signs,  and 
lying  wonders ;  and  with  all  dcceivableness  of  unrighteous- 
ness !  !  and  from  John  (xiii.  13,  14,)  that  the  false  prophet 
doeth  great  wonders  in  the  sight  of  men;  and  deceiveth 
them  who  dwell  on  the  earth,  by  the  means  of  those  mira- 
cles which  he  hath  power  to  do. 

Doth  not  history  show,  that  the  church  of  Rome  requires 
an  implicit  and  most  abject  obedience  ;  doth  she  not  con- 
demn all  who  will  not  readily  conform,  as  heretics;  and 
excomunicate,  and  exclude  them  from  the  civil  intercourses 
arid  business  of  life?  So  the  false  prophet,  in  John,  (xiii. 
16,  17,)  causeth  all,  both  small  and  great,  rich  and  poor, 
bond  and  free,  to  receive  a  mark  in  their  right  hand,  or  in 
their  foreheads;  and  that  no  man  might  buy  or  sell,  save 
he  that  had  the  mark  of  the  beast ! ! ! 

Again,  does  not  history  show,  that  the  Roman  Pontiffs 
have  already  occasioned  the  shedding  of  as  much,  and 
more  blood,  in  the  opinion  of  the  ablest  historians,  than 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  153 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

has  been  shed  in  all  the  wars  of  the  Roman  Emperors? 
That  they  have  all  along,  maintained  their  spiritual  sover- 
eignty by  secret  plots  and  inquisitions!  by  open  dragoon- 
ings  and  massacres;  that  they  have  imprisoned,  and  tor- 
tured, and  murdered,  to  the  extent  of  their  power,  the  true 
worshippers  of  God,  and  the  faithful  servants  of  Jesus 
Christ?  In  this  respect,  as  well  as  all  the  preceding,  the 
predictions  of  the  prophets  exactly  and  distinctly  answer. 
For  it  is  affirmed  of  the  little  horn,  in  Daniel,  (vii.  21,  25,) 
that  he  shall  make  war  with  the  saints,  and  shall  prevail 
against  them; — and  shall  speak  great  words  against  the 
Most  High,  and  shall  wear  out  the  saints  of  the  Most 
High!  —  And  the  woman  in  the  Revelation,  Babylon  the 
great,  the  mother  of  harlots,  (xvii.  6,)  is  represented  as 
drunken,  with  the  blood  of  the  saints,  and  with  the  blood 
of  the  martyrs  of  Jesus:  and  (xviii.  24,)  in  her  was  found 
the  blood  of  prophets  and  of  saints;  and  of  all,  that  is  true 
believers,  who  are  slain  upon  the  earth !  corresponding 
perfectly,  with  a  charge  direct  of  our  Saviour,  in  the  twenty- 
third  chapter  of  Matthew,  31st  verse.  Wherefore  ye  be 
witnesses  unto  yourselves,  that  ye  are  the  children  of  them 
who  killed  the  prophets.  Fill  ye  up  then  the  measure  of 
your  fathers.  Ye  serpents,  ye  generation,  (or  more  prop- 
erly rendered  race)  of  vipers!  how  can  ye  escape  the  dam- 
nation of  hell?  the  strongest  mode  of  language  ever  adopt- 
ed by  God  himself,  to  denote  the  certainty  of  the  event 
predicted.  It  was  telling  them  to  their  faces,  nothing  less, 
than —  "  Ye  (that  is,  you,  and  all  your  race)  cannot  escape 
the  damnation  of  hett!"  And  the  reasons  are  given  — 
"  Wherefore,  behold,  I  send  unto  you  prophets,  (he  had 
done  it  in  all  preceding  time,  and  promises  here,  to  do  it  in 
time  to  come)  and  wise  men,  and  scribes  :  and  some  of 
them  ye  shall  kill  and  crucify;  and  some  of  them  ye  shall 
scourge  in  your  synagogues,  and  persecute  them  from  city 
to  city:  (to  prepare  yourselves  for  it)  that  upon  you,  (that 
is,  your  diabolical  murderous  race)  may  come  all  the  righte- 


154          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ous  blood  (that  is,  the  charge,  and  guilt,  and  punishment, 
of  all  the  murders  of  believers)  shed  upon  the  earth,  from 
the  blood  of  righteous  Abel,  unto  the  blood  of  Zacharias, 
son  of  Barachias,  whom  ye  slew  between  the  temple  and 
the  altar.  Verily,  I  s*ay  unto  you,  all  these  things  shall 
come  upon  this  generation,  or  as  it  ought  to  be  rendered,  on 
this  tyrannical,  and  murderous  race.  There  is  no  salvation 
for  it ! 

But,  besides  these  plain  and  direct  prophesies  of  the  cor- 
ruptions and  frightful  innovations  of  the  Romish  church, 
and  these  illustrations  furnished  by  history,  there  are  many 
glances  at  them,  which,  though  somewhat  less  glaring  and 
withering,  are,  nevertheless,  absolute  intendments  and  pic- 
tures of  her  deformity.  Known  unto  God,  are  all  his  work?, 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world ;  (Acts  xv.  18.)  And 
when  the  Holy  Ghost  dictated  to  the  ancient  prophets,  the 
prophesies  concerning  Babylon,  Tyre,  Egypt,  and  other 
tyrannical  and  corrupt  governments,  he  dictated  them  in 
such  a  manner,  as  to  evince,  distinctly,  that  he  had  a  far- 
ther and  more  emphatic  view  to  the  character  of  this  pow- 
er, in  coming  time;  when  it  would  become  more  outrageous 
and  diabolical,  than  it  ever  had  been  in  those  primitive 
times.  And  hence,  we  perceive,  that  the  character  of  this 
power,  as  shown  in  Babylon,  Tyre,  Egypt,  and  the  others 
referred  to,  are  made  the  types  and  emblems  of  present 
Rome.  And  many  of  the  particulars  predicted  concerning 
the  former,  are  evidently  more  fully  and  completely  applica- 
ble to  the  latter,  the  Popish  government  of  Rome.  Accord- 
ingly, John,  you  know,  has  thus  applied  them.  Jere- 
miah said,  concerning  ancient  Babylon,  (Jeremiah  vii.  45,) 
"Babylon  hath  been  a  golden  cup  in  the  Lord's  hand, 
which  made  all  the  earth  drunken ;  the  nations  have 
drunken  of  her  wine ;  therefore,  the  nations  are  mad  !  My 
people,  go  ye  out  of  the  midst  of  her;  and  deliver  ye  every 
man  his  soul  from  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord ! "  But 
how  much  more  applicable  are  these  expressions,  as  John 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          155 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND   ASSES. 

hath  applied  them,  to  her  present  character,  as  mystic  Baby- 
lon, or  Rome  !  Saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  Rev.  xvii.  4.,  xviii.  3 
4,  "She  hath  a  golden  cup  in  her  hand,  full  of  abomi- 
nations !  All  nations,  have  druuk  of  the  poisonous  wine  of 
her  fornication !  Come  out  of  her,  my  people,  that  ye  be 
not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive  not  of  her 
plagues  !  ! !  "  * 

The  prophets  themselves  might  not  have  fully  understood 
this  matter,  when  God  ordered  them  to  speak  thus;  and 
perhaps  saw  no  farther  than  the  literal  meaning.  But  this 
idea,  gives  their  language  the  greater  force;  as  on  this  sup- 
position it  came  directly  from  the  Omnicient  God!  Yes, 
they  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  (II  Pe- 
ter, i.  21,)  who  comprehends  all  events,  the  most  remote 
and  involved,  as  well  as  the  most  immediate  and  conspic- 
uous. 

But,  in  another  view,  the  exhibitions  of  Popery,  which 
we  particularly  mean,  are  more  frequent,  and  more  obvi- 
ous in  the  New  Testament.  In  proof  of  this,  we  ask,  why 
was  the  ever  blessed  and  Omnicient  Saviour,  so  very  cau- 
tious in  giving  honor  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  that  he  seemed 
to  regard  her  less  than  the  least  of  his  real  disciples? 
(Matt.  xii.  48,)  Who  is  my  mother?  (John  ii.  4,)  Woman, 
what  have  I  to  do  with  thee?  (Luke  xi.  27,  28,)  Blessed 
is  the  womb  that  bare  thee;  and  the  paps  that  thou  hast 
sucked —  Yea,  rather,  blessed  are  they  who  hear  the  word 
of  God,  and  keep  it.  Why  did  he  rebuke  Peter,  more  se- 
verely, than  any  other  of  the  "apostles,  (Matt.  xvi.  23,)  Get 
thee  behind  me  satan ;  thou  art  an  offence  unto  me;  for 
thou  savorest  not  the  things  that  be  of  God,  but  those  that 
be  of  men;  and  this,  especially,  just  after  giving  him  that 
high  encomium,  (ver.  18,)  Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this 
rock  I  will  build  my  Church?  We  must  admit  that  he 
spake  and  acted  thus,  as  then  foreseeing  that  divine  wor- 
ship which  would  idolatrously  be  paid  to  the  one  —  and 
that  supremacy  that  would  be  tyrannically  arrogated  to  the 


156          "THINSS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONOS. 

other  ;  and  which  that  very  encomium,  would,  impertinent- 
ly, be  brought  to  countenance?  And  again,  how  came  it 
to  pass,  that  our  Saviour,  in  instituting  his  Holy  Supper, 
(Matt.  xxvi.  26,  27,)  said  of  the  bread,  only  "take,  eat" — 
but  of  the  cup  more  particularly,  "  drink  ye  all  of  it" 
We  must  suppose,  that  it  was  designed  to  prevent,  or  obvi- 
ate their  foul  sacrilege,  who  will  allow  all,  indeed  to  eat  of 
the  bread,  but  priests,  only,  to  drink  of  the  cup  ? 

Why  were  the  vices  of  the  chief  priests,  scribes,  Phari- 
sees and  elders,  left  so  particularly  upon  record,  if  not 
chiefly  for  the  warning  and  rebuke  of  their  natural  issue 
and  descendants,  the  clergy  and  Popes,  of  the  Church  of 
Rome?  Attentively  read  the  whole  twenty-third  chapter 
of  Matthew,  and  you  will  find,  that  there  is  not  a  single  wo 
denounced  against  the  former,  but  which  as  properly  be- 
longs, and  is  as  strictly  applicable  to  the  latter —  "  Binding 
heavy  burdens,  and  grievous  to  be  borne,  and  laying  them 
oilmen's  shoulders;  doing  all  their  works  to  be  seen  of 
men  —  shutting  up  the  kingdom  of  heaven  against  men  — 
neither  going  in  themselves,  nor  suffering  them  who  are 
entering  to  go  in  —  devouring  widows'  houses,  and  fora 
pretense,  making  long  prayers;  compassing  sea  and  land 
to  make  one  proselyte,  and  when  he  is  made,  making  him 
two-fold  more  the  child  of  hell,  than  themselves. 

He  charged  them  with  making  useless  and  frivolous  dis- 
tinctions of  oaths;  as  they  taught  that  you  may  harmlessly 
swear  by  this  and  that;  —  that  they  observed  trifling  du- 
ties with  mighty  hypocritical  positiveness,  but  omitted  all 
the  weighty  matters  of  the  law,  such  as  judgment,  mercy, 
and  faith  ;  — that  they  made  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup 
and  platter,  but  within,  they  were  full  of  extortion  and  ex- 
cess;—  that  they  labored,  outwardly,  to  appear  righteous 
unto  men;  but  .were,  within,  full  of  hypocrisy  and  iniqui- 
ty;—  that  they  made  a  great  show  in  building  the  tombs 
of  the  prophets,  and  garnishing  the  sepulchres  of  the 
righteo  .s,  thus  infamously  hypocritical,  honoring  the 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  157 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

dead  saints,  but  at  the  same  time  were  persecuting  the  liv- 
ing, to  the  extent  of  their  diabolical  power.  Yes,  all  these 
traits  of  character,  and  charges,  are  admitted,  by  all  learned 
and  orthodox  readers,  the  world  over,  to  be  as  clear  and 
strong  marks  and  characteristics  of  the  conduct  of  the  clergy 
and  the  Popes  of  the  church  of  Rome,  now;  as  they  were 
of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  to  whom  they  were  first  di- 
rected and  applied. 

Do  not  forbidding  implicit  faith  and  obedience  to  men, 
(Math,  xxiii.  9,)  "Call  no  man  your  father  upon  the  earth, 
for  one  is  your  father,  who  is  in  heaven;  "  —  forbidding  the 
worship  of  angels;  (Coll.  xi.  18.)  Let  no  man  beguile  you 
of  your  reward,  in  a  voluntary  humility  and  worshipping 
of  angels;  forbidding  all  pretenses  to  works  of  merit  and 
supererogation  ;  (Luke  xvii.  10,)  When  ye  shall  have  done 
all  these  things  which  are  commanded  you,  say,  we  are 
unprofitable  servants ;  we  have  done  that  which  was  our 
duty  to  do;  forbidding  the  clergy  to  lord  it  over  God's  her- 
itage; (I  Peter,  iv.  3,)  Neither  as  being  lords  over  God's 
heritage;  but  being  ensamples  of  the  flock;  prohibiting  the 
service  of  God  being  performed  in  an  unknown  tongue; 
and  this,  Paul  has  forbidden,  in  a  formal  manner,  in  the 
fourteenth  chapter  of  his  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians. 
Yes,  I  ask,  do  not  all  these,  and  all  such  like  Bible  prohibi- 
tions, necessarily  presuppose,  and  definitely  represent,  that 
in  the  progress  of  time,  in  gospel  days,  these  particular  and 
shocking  errors  and  blasphemous  abuses,  would  be  exhibited 
by  a  community  falsely  calling  itself  Christian  1  And  we  all 
know,  that  the  only  community  on  earth,  by  which  they  have 
been,  and  now  are,  publicly  and  shamelessly  taught,  and 
practiced,  is  that  of  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  or  .church  of  Rome. 
And  this  tyrannical,  murderous,  and  blasphemous,  horned 
beast.  Man  of  Sin,  or  "Babylon  the  Great,"  is  according  to 
the  sure  "word  of  prophesy,"  to  continue,  and  wax  worse 
and  worse;  being  "given  over  to  strong  delusions,  to  believe 
a  lie;"  until  the  Day  of  Christ,  the  millenium,  or  the  prom- 


158          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ieed  reign  of  righteousness  and  peace,  throughout  the  world, 
shall  commence.  For,  saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  through  our 
infallible  apostle,  with  direct  and  special  reference  to  this 
glorious  event,  "  Now  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  our  gathering  to- 
gether unto  him;  that  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind,  nor 
be  troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor  by  (fraudu- 
lent) letter,  as  from  us;  that  the  Day  of  Christ,  is  at  hand." 
This  has  no  reference,  whatever,  to  the  end  of  time,  but  to 
the  legitimate  effects  of  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, and  the  rejected  Jews — who  are  then  to  be  recovered 
to  the  faith  and  priviliges  of  God's  dear  children.  Blind- 
ness, in  part,  has  happened  unto  Israel  —  they  have  been 
cut  off  for  their  unbelief  from  the  olive  tree.  Age  has  fol- 
lowed age,  and  they  remain  to  (his  hour,  spread  over  the 
face  of  the  earth,  a  fearful  and  affecting  testimony  to  the 
truth  of  the  Word  of  God.  They  are  without  their  sanct- 
uary—  without  their  Messiah  —  without  the  hope  of  their 
believing  ancestors !  But  it  shall  not  be  always  thus. 
They  are  still  beloved,  for  the  Father's  sake.  When  the 
fullness  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  in,  they  too,  shall  be  gath- 
ered. They  shall  discover  in  our  Jesus,  the  marks  of  the 
promised  Messiah ;  and  now  with  tenderness  proportioned 
to  their  former  insensibility,  they  shall  cling  to  his  cross ! 
Grafted  again  into  their  olive  tree,  all  Israel  shall  be  saved. 
It  was  through  their  fall,  that  salvation  come  unto  us,  Gen- 
tiles. And,  if  the  casting  away  of  them  be  the  reconciling 
of  the  world ;  what  shall  the  receiving  of  them  be,  but  life 
from  the  dead?  Then,  when  the  Gentile  and  the  Jew, 
shall  be  seen  taking  sweet  counsel  together,  and  going  to 
the  house  of  God  in  company ;  and  the  path  of  the  swift 
and  Almighty  messenger  of  grace,  marked  in  every  direc- 
tion, with  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospfcl  of  peace  ; 
the  children  of  Zion,  heard  exclaiming,  the  place  is  too 
straight  for  me ;  give  room  to  me,  that  I  may  dwell ;  then, 
yes,  then,  and  not  till  then,  will  be  the  public  overthrow, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          159 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

and  perdition,  of  the  "man  of  sin,  or  Babylon  the  great !  " 
The  knowledge  of  Jehovah,  will  be  seen  overspreading  the 
earth,  and  all  flesh  enjoying  the  salvation  of  God,  during 
the  premised  "  thousand  prophetic  years." 

Let  no  man  (none  of  the  like  of  our  new  school,  filthy, 
{£  second  personal  advent  dreamers,")  deceive  you,  by  any 
means;  for  "  that  day  shall  not  come,  except  there  come  a 
falling  away  first,  and  that  man  of  sin  be  revealed,  the  son 
of  perdition."  For  he,  "the  mistery  of  iniquity,  doth  al- 
ready work  —  [has  always,  since  the  murder  of  Abel,  been 
at  work,]  —  only  he  who  now  letteth,  will  let,  until  he  be 
taken  out  of  the  way ;  and  then  shall  this  Wicked  be  re- 
vealed;"—  [that  is,  signally,  and  publicly,  and  judicially, 
exposed.]  For,  "  the  Lord,"  meaning  Christ,  "  shall  con- 
sume him,  with  the  spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  shall  destroy 
him  "with  the  brightness  of  His  coming;  "  that  is  by  the 
effectual  preaching  of  his  Gospel,  attended  every  whereby 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Yes,  then,  and  not  till  then, 
shall  this  great  enemy  of  the  purity  and  peace,  and  bles- 
sedness of  believers,  or  the  true  church  or  congregation  of 
the  Lord,  in  all  preceding  time,  who  has  shed  the  blood  of 
the  saints  and  the  prophets,  and  exalted  himself  above  all 
that  is  called  God,  appear  in  the  whole  horror  of  his  doom, 
as  the  "son  of  perdition."  The'terrible,  but  ineffably  joyous 
event,  shall  be  announced  by  an  angel  from  heaven,  crying 
mightily,  with  a  strong  voice,  Babylon  the  great,  is  fallen, 
is  fallen  !  ALLELUIA  !  shall  be  the  response  over  its  tomb  ! 
The  church  militant,  and  triumphant.  Salvation,  and 
glory,  and  honor,  and  power,  unto  the  Lord  our  God, 
for  true  and  righteous  are  his  judgments ;  for  he  hath  judged 
the  great  Whore,  which  did  corrupt  the  earth  with  her  for- 
nication ;  and  hath  avenged  the  blood  of  his  servants,  at  her 
hand.  Then,  too,  the  accuser  of  the  brethren,  that  old 
serpent,  which  is  the  devil,  shall  be  cast  down,  and  bound 
a  thousand  years;  that  he  shall  deceive  the  nations  no  more, 
until  the  thousand  years  be  accomplished ;  then  he  is  to  be 


160          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

loosed  for  a  little  season,  before  the  day  of  judgment;  for 
that  day  of  the  Lord  shall  come  —  and  when  it  pleaseth 
Him  —  blessed  be  his  name.  No  created  being  is  ever  to 
know  anything  about  the  hour,  or  the  day.  And  it  is, 
therefore,  profane,  and  most  impious,  for  any  man  to 
speculate  about  it;  such  an  one,  only  shows,  that  he  is 
"vainly  and  ignorantly  puffed  up,  in  his  fleshly  mind." 

Here,  therefore,  reader,  we  see  the  stitpidity,  or  folly,  or 
hypocritical  madness,  of  all  the  second  Personal  reign  mon- 
gers}  who  have  been  by  a  most  inscrutible  Providence,  per- 
mitted to  be  their  own  disgrace,  not  only ;  but  the  disgrace 
of  even  this  adulterated,  and  still  adulterous  generation. 

But,  we  here  leave  them,  to  the  just  judgment  of  God  ; 
and  dwell  for  a  moment  longer,  upon  the  prospect,  which 
the  overthrow  and  perdition  of  the  man  of  sin,  or  Babylon 
the  Great,  and  the  binding  of  that  old  serpent  which  is  the 
Devil,  which  are  to  be  simultaneous  events,  for  a  thousand 
years,  affords  to  all  believers,  or  the  Church  of  God,  uni- 
versal. The  Congregation  of  the  Lord,  will  then  be  all 
righteous;  arid  there  will  be  righteousness  and  peace, 
throughout  the  world,  fora  thousand  —  or  as  it  might  more 
properly  be  rendered,  for  a  vast  millenary  of  years.  Then, 
the  voice  of  the  blasphemer,  shall  no  more  insult  the  ears 
of  the  members  of  the  Church  of  God ;  all  existing  iniqui- 
ty, abashed,  and  ashamed,  shall  stop  its  mouth  and  hide 
its  head.  All  the  officers  of  the  church,  or  among  believers, 
shall  be  peace;  and  all  her  exactors, "righteousness — the 
kings  of  the  earth,  bringing  iheir  glory  and  honor,  to  the 
church,  will  then  accomplish  that  glorious  promise;  "The 
mountains  shall  bring  peace  to  the  people,  and  the  little 
hills,  by  righteousness.  The  Lord  Jesus,  [whose]  throne'is 
forever  arid  ever,  (through  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Ghost.) 
shall  judge  among  the  nations,  and  shall  rebuke  many  peo- 
ple; and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  ploughshares, 
and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks;  nation  shall  uot  lift 
up  sword  against  nation;  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  161 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

more.  Fear,  and  the  sword,  shall  be  far  away  —  they  shall 
sit,  every  man  under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig-tree,  and 
none  shall  make  them  afraid.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord, 
violence  shall  no  more  be  heard  in  thy  land,  wasting  nor 
destruction  within  thy  borders;  but  thou  shall  call  thy 
walls  SALVATION,  and  thy  gates  Praise."  This,  assuredly, 
secures  to  the  church,  or  believers,  the  presence  of  God, 
the  communion  of  his  love,  and  the  signal  manifestation 
of  his  glory. 

Indeed,  reader  —  Behold!  The  tabernacle  of  God,  shall 
be  with  men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall 
be  his  people  —  and  God  himself —  God  the  Holy  Ghost, 
shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God. 

Such,  according  to  the  sure  word  of  Prophecy,  will  be 
the  destruction  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  the  binding  of  the  old 
serpent,  the  Devil,  for  a  thousand,  or  a  millenary  of  years ; 
and  such  will  be  the  triumphs  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus;  —  and  where,  is  the  rational  being,  to  be  found,  in 
the  possession  of  a  sound  mind,  and  who  feels  the  least 
emotion  of  benevolence,  who  can  stifle,  or  repel,  the  senti- 
ment of  solemn  awe  ?  and  where  is  the  man,  with  a  heart 
so  hard,  as  not  to  beat  with  bland  emotions?  who  will  not 
long  to  have  the  church  of  God,  and  this  miserable  race  of 
immortals,  thus  visited  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  sent  down  from 
heaven  to  dwell  among  them  here  upon  earth  ? 

O  come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly  —  and  heal  the 
wounds  of  this  bleeding  world!  And  now,  To  God  the 
Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  ascribed 
equal,  undivided,  and  everlasting  honors;  and  we  know, 
that  the  blast  of  the  second  death,  will  wither  all  those,  who 
refuse  to  say,  AMEN. 

Although  we  have  now  beheld,  through  the  glass  of  the 
sure  word  of  prophecy  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  distance 
of  the  long  vista  of  future,  unrevealed  time,  the  "binding 
of  the  accuser  of  the  brethren,  that  old  serpent,  which  is 
the  devil,  for  a  thousand  years ; "  and  seen  the  overthrow, 
11 


162  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

and  heard  the  doom  of  the  "Man  of  Sin"-  — Babylon,  the 
Great,"  to  the  "eternal  damnation  of  hell;"  and  heard 
the  "shout  of  one  of  God's  strong  and  mighty  angels,  fly- 
ing through  the  midst  of  heaven;  "  and  the  response  —  the 
rejoicings  and  congratulations  of  earth  and  heaven  —  the 
church  militant  and  triumphant,  on  the  occasion  ;  and  wit- 
nessed, in  prospect,  the  commencement  of  the  promised 
"  reign  of  righteousness  and  peace;  "  we  have  not  yet  per- 
mission from  our  master,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  here  to 
leave  the  subject  with  our  readers,  without  furnishing  them 
with  a  view  of  some  of  the  recently  proposed  operations  of 
this  God-accursed  power,  which  were  projected  by  the  Pope 
of  Rome,  assisted  by  that  arch  agent  of  his,  Metternich, 
of  the  Prince  Leopard  foundation,  in  Germany.  These 
may  be,  truly,  called  new  and  extraordinary  revelations. 
The  plan  of  operations  referred  to,  was  first  presented  to  our 
view,  in  a  number  of  the  Dublin  Catholic  Herald,  pub- 
lished in  the  year  1839,  with  comments  upon  it,  by  one  of 
our  judicious  friends.  That  paper,  in  giving  an  account 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  society  for  propagating  the  faith 
in  Ireland,  held  in  Dublin,  pompously  represented,  that, 
"  After  pontificial  high  mass,"  [we  wonder  if  Paul  or  Peter 
ever  heard  of  pontificial  high  mass?  Truly,  they  say 
nothing  about  it.]  But,  after  this  pontificial  nonsense,  in 
which  "  His  grace,  the  most  Rev.  Dr.  Murry,  officiated  as 
High  Priest ;  "  —  [we  read  of  the  "  High  Priest  of  our  pro- 
fession, Jesus  Christ,  the  righteous," — but  when  did  any 
of  the  apostles  officiate  as  "  High  Priest?  "  ]  but,  after  all 
this,  and  abundance  more  of  flummery,  the  account  pro- 
ceeds thus :  "Dr.  Kenney,  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  pro- 
nounced a  very  eloquent  discourse." 

From  this  apostolic  discourse  on  missions,  the  following 
extract  explained  to  the  laity  "  all  they  had  to  do"  in  the 
holy  enterprise  of  spreading  Popery  over  the  world  !  Just 
one-half  penny  per  week,  and  one  our  Father,  and  one 
Hail  Mary,  and  one  St.  Francis  Xavier,  "pray  for  us.;" 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          163 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

this  would  purchase  one  hundred  days'  indulgence,  each 
repetition,  besides  converting  the  world !  ! !  But  let  us 
hear  Dr.  Kenney: 

"What  was  the  co-operation  required  of  them?  Not 
that  they  should  leave  house,  and  lands,  and  family,  and 
friends,  wife  and  children ;  but  that  each  and  every  one  of 
them  should  give  the  small  sum  of  one-half  penny  per  week, 
towards  the  support  and  furtherence  of  the  glorious  cause. 
Second,  that  they  say  for  the  prosperity  of  the  institution, 
one  our  Father,  and  one  Hail  Mary,  each  day ;  or  to  offer, 
with  the  same  intention,  the  patre  and  ave  of  their  daily 
morning  and  evening  prayers ;  adding  a  short  prayer,  such 
as  this:  St.  Francis  Xavier  !  'pray  for  us.'  If  they  did 
that,  they  would  have  an  indulgence  of  one  hundred  days, 
each  time  the  prayers  were  repeated  with  a  contrite  heart. 
There  would  also  be  a  plenary  indulgence,  once  a  month, 
for  any  subscribers,  who  said  the  appointed  prayers  every 
day;  besides  plenary  indulgences  on  particular  days  !  That 
was  all  they  had'to  do" !  That  was  all  they  had  to  do  ! ! 
Two  shillings  and  two  pence  ahead,  per  year!  Not  so 
very  heavy  burden,  truly ;  but  it  should  be  remembered, 
that  this  is  an  extra  tax,  for  a  special  society,  over  and 
above  the  other  sums  paid  to  the  priest.  And  then,  how 
very  easy  the  praying  part  of  popery  !  Only  say  the  Lord's 
prayer,  once,  and  one  short  prayer  to  the  blessed  Virgin, 
and  one  very  short  one,  to  St.  Francis  Xavier  !  One  prayer 
to  God  the  Father,  and  two,  to  the  saints,  —  his  creatures, 
would  answer  every  needful  purpose.  One  to  God,  and 
two  to  creatures,  are  the  precise  infallible  proportions  of 
this  praying  prescription. — So  decide  these  unerring  priests. 
And  then,  to  render  the  dose  palatable,  come  the  one  hun- 
dred days'  indulgence,  besides  a  plenary  indulgence,  once 
a  month ;  and  plenary  indulgence  on  particular  days  ! 
What  more  indulgences  could  the  vilest  sinner  that  ever 
drew  breath,  desire  ?  Well  did  Robert  Hall  pronounce  Po- 
pery "the  grand  master-piece  of  Satan." 


164  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

Immediately  after  the  above  described  celebration  of  High 
Mass,  in  Dublin,  a  manifesto  of  its  object  and  proceedings, 
was  circulated  throughout  Great  Britain  and  the  continent, 
and  among  the  Catholics  in  America. 

But  a  little  over  two  years  after  this,  viz.  in  the  summer 
of  1842,  a  pamphlet  was  issued,  (the  Pope  and  Metternich 
having  sanctioned  a  system,)  simultaneously,  in  London  and 
in  Dublin;  entitled  a  "Proposed  New  Plan  of  A  General 
Emigration  Society;  By  A  Catholic  Gentleman."  And 
although  this  pamphlet  has  been  noticed  in  several  of  our 
Gazettes,  and  Periodicals,  yet,  we  deem  it  a  duty,  and  in 
good  keeping  with  our  object,  in  the  present  illustration  of 
the  character  and  policy  of  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  to  present 
our  readers  with  a  brief  account  of  this  Society.  This  is 
the  more  important,  as  our  knowledge  of  the  morbid  and 
deluded  state  of  the  public  mind,  in  our  country,  and  in  the 
Atlantic  states,  particularly,  with  respect  to  the  aggressive 
movements  of  this  formidable  power,  will  not  allow  us  to 
neglect  this  opportunity  to  attempt  to  direct  the  attention  of 
our  fellow  Christian  countrymen,  who  may  peruse  our  re- 
views, to  the  imminent  dangers,  to  which  all  our  republican 
institutions,. and  privileges,  are  now  exposed,  by  the  nefari- 
ous policy  of  this  "  Man  of  Sin."  This  however,  is  no 
new  thing  to  us.  For  twelve  or  fifteen  years  past — yea, 
ever  since  we  read  the  "  Correspondence"  between  one  of 
our  "Secretaras*  of  State,  with  the  prime  minister"  in 
Europe,  of  the  "  Man  of  Sin; "  in  which,  according  to  the 
prediction  of  John,  our  "king,"  that  is,  our  Chief  Magis- 
trate, "  gave  his  strength  and  power  unto  the  beast;"  we 
have  on  all  proper  occasions,  lifted  up  our  voice,  in  the 
presence  of  our  fellow  citizens,  in  the  language  of  warning 
and  alarm.  But,  alas,  they  have  little  heeded  our  admoni- 
tions! and  often,  given  us  no  thanks;  yet,  frequently  loaded 
us  with  obloquy  and  reproach,  and  threatened  the  taking 

'Martin  Van  Buren,  the  "little  magician,"  whose  head  forms  a  part  oJ 
a  cut  in  our  frontispiece. 


"THINGS    NEW     AND   OLD,"           165 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

of  our  very  life,  even  between  the  horns  of  the  altar.  But 
we  knew  it  would  not  be  long,  before  they  would  regret  and 
bewail  their  ingratkude,  their  stupidity,  their  folly,  and 
their  madness,  with  respect  to  this  matter.  And  already, 
that  period  draweth  nigh. 

We  may  settle  it' in  our  minds,  that  the  plan  of  this  Ro- 
man Catholic  Emigration  Society,  in  one  shape  or  another, 
with  a  step  steady  as  time, — and  with  an  eye  that  will 
never  wink,  —  and  with  a  heart  more  relentless  and  malig- 
nant than  death, 

"Will  on  the  way  it  takes," 

Cracking  ten  thousand  curbs,  of 

More  strong  link  asunder,  than 

Can  ever  arise  from  the  combined  impediments," 

Of  our  "rotten"  CONGRESS;  our  "  drnnkcn  "* 

Temperance  " reformers ;"  our  "legions" 

Of  blasphemous  "heretics," 

With  all  our  "  COME-OUTERS." 

Yes,  reader,  "be  not  deceived"  the  Principles  of  this  plan, 
exhibited  in  the  third  openly  avowed  object  of  it,  viz: 
"TO  RENDER  THE  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  RELI- 
GION, PREDOMINANT  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES," 
are  cordially  responded  to,  from  their  first  announcement,  by 
every  potentate  and  grandee  in  Great  Britain,  and  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe !  Said  the  illustrious  Curran,  and 
the  sentiment  merits  golden  capitals,  the  world  over,  in  all 
time,  as  it  will  be  true  to  eternity.  — "The  only  condition 
on  which  God  gives  LIBERTY  to  man,  is  eternal  vigilance ; 
which  condition,  if  he  break,  SERVITUDE,  is  at  once  the  nat- 

*That  professed  Christian,  who  attempts  "reform,"  of  any  spiritual  value 
to  his  fellow  man,  by  that  '  ignis  fatuus  '  "  moral  suasion,"  without  basing 
it  on  evangelical  repentance,  is  a  Bible  fool  —  "needs  that  one  teach  him, 
which  be  the  fir *t  principles  of  the  doctrines  of  Christ."  Such  "reform," 
however,  consorts  very  well,  with  the  faith,  habits  ,and  prospects,  of  debau- 
ches, Unicersalists,  Sicinians,  falsely  called  Unitarians,  Puseyites,  Shaking 
Quakers,  Sweedenborgeans,  Sandy  mini  ans,  Christ-tians,  Jews,  Mahometans, 
Papists,  Heathen,  u  et  id  omne  genus  "  that  are  "  bound  over  to  the  devil  and 
his  angels;  '  and  toe  would  here,  on  the  whole,  urge  no  objection:  but, 
very  devoutly,  say,  .imin. 


166          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

ural  consequence  of  his  crime,  and  the  just  punishment  of 
his  guilt.'-! 

We  do  not  indeed,  say,  that  there  is  a  formal  conspiracy, 
between  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe,  to  bring  our  Re- 
public under  the  control  of  the  "Man  of  Sin ; "  but  we  do 
mean  to  say,  that  no  duly  enlightened  conscientious  man, 
in  either  America,  or  even  Europe,  entertains  a  doubt,  but 
that  they  all  ardently  desire  such  a  tremendous  and  horri- 
ble result.  And  in  this  well  known  fact,  the  whole  of  the 
Romish  devilish  legions,  — the  Pope,  his  cardirfals,  his  pre- 
lates, his  priests,  together  with  all  the  lower  orders  of  his 
rabid  brutes,  of  course,  find  great  and  constant  encourage- 
ment and  support.  Although  we  freely  admit,  that  there 
may  be  good  reasons  for  the  desire  of  their  political  econo- 
mists, as  set  forth  in  the  pamphlet,  to  be  one  object  of  the 
plan  of  emigration,  to  remove  those  loathsome,  poisonous, 
pestilential  masses,  of  their  population,  from  their  commun- 
ities and  cities ;  yet  it  is  as  clear  as  light  could  make  it,  from 
the  whole  face,  and  tenor  of  their  manifesto,  that  the 
grand,  undivided,  and  undiverted  object,  of  all  of  them  is, 
"To  render  the  Roman  Catholic  Religion,  predominant  in 
the  United  States." 

And  now,  to  prove  all  our  statements,  and  positions,  we 
will  proceed  to  show  you,  reader,  what  this  "  Man  of  Sin" 
himself,  has  openly  declared  in  this  pamphlet,  concerning 
his  policy,  with  reference  to  the  conversion  to  popery,  of 
the  people  of  these  United  States.  This  Document,  is  so 
remarkably  illustrative  of  the  uniform  policy,  of  the  "False 
Prophet. "  that  we  shall  present  our  readers  with  all  its 
leading  features;  as  we  feel  confident  that  coming  events, 
in  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  will  prove,  to  the  very  hearts 
core,  of  degenerated  Puritans  and  Republicans,  that  there 
is  real  meaning,  in  that  text —  "  And  when  thou  art  spoiled, 
what  wilt  thou  do  7" 

In  a  general  view,  this  scheme  speciously  proposes  the 
"Centralization  System"  of  Wakefield,  introduced  in  Aus- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND   OLD,"  167 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE    FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

tralia.  And  the  professed,  leading  objects  are  arranged  and 
declared  as  follows  —  First,  to  dispose  of  the  excess  of  pop- 
ulation. Second,  so  to  dispose  of  it,  as  to  create  a  larger 
demand  for  British  manufactures.  Third,  (and  this  is  the 
gist  of  the  project  of  the  Society  of  this  "  Man  of  Sin,")  to 
render  the  Catholic  Religion  predominant  in  the  United 
States." 

In  order  to  accomplish  these  objects,  the  admirable  pro- 
cess they  propose  to  employ,  is  the  colonizing  of  the  Irish 
Catholic  poor,  in  the  Western  States.  Fourth,  a  pecuniary- 
profit,  is  held  out,  on  the  capital  invested.  Fifth,  the  se- 
curing an  agreeable  asylum,  for  a  large  class  of  persons, 
whose  present  situation  in  England,  and  on  the  Continent 
of  Europe,  is  uncomfortable;  such,  and  suchlike,  as  the 
younger  sons  of  the  nobility  and  gentry;  gentlemen  of  de- 
cayed fortune  —  and  those  who  now  hang  upon  the  army 
or  navy;  and  the  overstock,  of  the  learned  professions,  who 
find  little  or  no  employment  there  at  home.  &c.  &c.  They 
have,  moreover,  illustrated  this  plan  of  their  emigrant  so- 
ciety, by  a  Map,  of  the  United  States  and  part  of  Canada ; 
parts  of  which  are  colored,  to  designate  the  district,  where 
their  satanic  scheme  is  to  be  carried  out.  And  in  doing 
this,  they  have  indeed  shown,  that  they  well  know  the 
geography  of  our  country;  and  that  their  eyes  are  eagerly 
fixed,  on  the  Great  Valley  of  the  West ;  which  is,  the  fair- 
est and  most  desirable  portion,  not  only  of  our  domain,  but 
that  is  to  be  found  in  the  entire  Continent  of  America. 
That  such  a  scheme,  should  afford  a  stimulus  of  no  ordi- 
nary character,  to  induce  emigration  to  America,  no  one 
can  deny  —  and  that  it  took  immediately,  with  vast  num- 
bers, the  rapid  increase  of  emigration  during  that  year  most 
clearly  proved.  Up  to  July  30th,  no  less  than  36,127  emi- 
grants, arrived  at  Quebec,  in  the  year  '42,  which  was  12,- 
878,  more  than  came  in  the  same  period,  the  preceding 
year.  Many  others  arrived  also  at  Halifax,  and  St.  John's. 
Large  portions  of  these  found  their  way,  for  certainty,  to 


168          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

the  United  States.  Crowds  of  emigrants,  at  this  period, 
were  seen  also,  without  number,  in  the  streets  of  Philadel- 
phia, New  Orleans,  &c.  In  New  York,  from  the  1st  of 
April  to  the  1st  of  July,  the  number  of  emigrant  arrivals, 
was  42,712, — being  more  than  25,000  greater  than  during 
the  same  months  the  preceding  year.  Of  this  number, 
8,498,  landed  in  five  days.  Between  August  1st,  and  Sep- 
tember 23d,  there  arrived  at  the  same  port,  from  Liverpool, 
6,747;  from  London,  1.835;  from  Havre,  1,790;  from  Bre- 
men, 1,222;  from  Antwerp,  1,920;  from  Bristol,  180;  from 
Glasgow,  593;  from  Gottenburg,  258;  from  Belfast,  138; 
from  St.  Johns,  148;  from  Rotterdam,  20;  from  Hamburg, 
141;  from  Norway,  115;  irom  Aberdeen,  70;  from  New- 
castle, 98;  from  Gibraltar,  31;  making  in  all,  14,560.  And 
the  larger  portion  of  these,  it  will  be  noticed,  were  from 
Catholic  regions.  The  ardor  with  which  this  plan  is  pur- 
sued, has  been  also,  strikingly  manifested  by  the  Societies 
in  Europe,  for  the  promotion  of  Romanism  in  foreign  coun- 
tries, viz :  the  one  at  Lyons,  in  France ;  and  the  Leopold 
society,  at  Vienna,  in  Austria.  The  amount  expended  by 
the  society  at  Lyons,  for  missions  in  North  America,  was, 
in  1839,  $65,438.  Of  this  sum,  $52,425,  or  nearly  five 
sixths,  was  devoted  to  missions  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
The  next  year,  1840,  the  appropriations  of  this  society,  to 
its  North  American  missions,  was  increased  to  $63,000; 
being  an  advance  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent, 
in  one  year.  Later  accounts  show  a  still  further  increase, 
proving  the  settled  policy  of  the  Roman  "Man  of  Sin," 
with  respect  to  our  country.  It  was  stated,  moreover,  in 
"The  Catholic,"  a  London  newspaper  of  Aug.  6th,  1842, 
quoting  it  too,  from  an  American  authority,  that  the  RIGHT 
REV.  JOSEPH  SALTZ  BEECHER,  Canon  of  Vienna,  Austria,  has 
been  here,  on  a  visit  to  the  German  Catholics  —  his  stay 
was  brief — but  we  learn  he  intends  to  visit  the  principal 
cities  in  the  Union;  to  look  into  the  religious  condit:oa  of 
his  countrymen  in  the  United  States. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  169 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

Now  these  statistics,  this  money,  and  visiting,  with  a 
commission  too  from  Prince  Metternich,  to  attend  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  Papists,  in  this  country,  all  go  to  prove  a  gen- 
eral sympathy  in  Europe,  in  just  such  views  and  measures, 
as  an  atrocious  conspiracy,  against  our  civil  and  religious, 
republican  institutions,  would  adopt. 

But  we  will  now  proceed  to  give  extracts  from  this  sui- 
generis  document,  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Emigration  Soci- 
ety; as  these  will  exhibit  the  principal  considerations, 
which  the  arch-authors*  employ,  to  awaken  the  zeal  of  all 
classes,  and  especially  Catholics,  to  enter  into  the  project. 

The  skill  of  their  best  diplomatic  writers,  is  exhibited  in 
this  document,  though  "  gotten  up  in  all  deceivableness  of 
unrighteousness."  The  composition,  for  a  state  paper,  is 
well  calculated  to  mislead,  "  to  dazzle  and  to  blind,"  the 
well  meaning  and  unwary !  The  first  paragraph  sets  forth 
the  necessity  for  colonizing  their  surplus  population,  in 
terms  following: 

"In  offering  a  new  plan  of  emigration  to  the  British  pub- 
lic, it  is  almost  unneccessary  to  premise,  that  such  is  now 
the  rapid  increase  of  population  in  the  United  Kingdom,  — 
such  increase  averaging,  it  is  conceived,  about  one  thousand 
a  day  —  that  the  excess  can  no  longer  be  supported,  but  by 
an  extended  and  extensive  system  of  emigration.  Austra- 
lia and  New  Zealand,  though  offering  daily  improving  fields 
for  this  purpose,  are,  in  themselves,  insufficient  to  absorb 
the  excess,  independent  of  the  objectionable  length  of  the 
voyage,  the  expense  of  transit,  amounting  to  about  twenty 
pounds  a-head,  impose  a  limit  to  extended  operations  in 
these  regions;  since,  to  convey  one  hundred  thousand  emi- 
grants there,  would  require  no  less  a  sum  than  two  millions 
sterling;  even  one-half  of  which  amount,  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult, if  not  impossible,  to  keep  in  a  state  of  annual  re- 
newal." 

*We  give  no  heed  to  the  Jesuitism  of  its  being  the  offspring  of  any  single 
"Catholic  Gentleman." 


170          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

Again :  further  reasons  are  urged  against  sending  out  the 
British  poor  to  the  South  Sea  and  Australian  colonies:  set- 
ting forth  that  those  possessions  should  be  preserved  as 
asylums  for  the  redundant  population  of  the  East  Indies 
and  China  !  Who  that  reads  the  following,  can  control  his 
risibility? 

t"In  searching  for  some  other  field  now  open  to  emigra- 
tion, which  may  be  reached  without  the  objectionable  cost 
of  such  a  passage  as  that  to  Australia,  and  in  which  the 
system  there  acted  upon,  being  made  more  perfect,  might 
be  carried  out;  British  America,  would  first  suggest  itself. 
But,  unfortunately,  that  country  is  so  situate,  as  to  present 
an  insurmountable  obstacle;  for  centralization  can  never 
long  be  maintained,  where  higher  wages  and  more  fertile 
soil  may  be  procured  within  a  journey  of  only  a  few  days. 
There  it  is,  that  the  masses  of  emigrants,  sent  out  at  a  great 
cost  by  the  government  and  individuals,  pass  over,  imme- 
diately after  their  arrival,  from  these  colonies,  to  the  United 
States." 

Again,  we  remark :  This  species  of  emigrants,  you  per- 
ceive, reader,  can  afford  no  inducements  to  capitalists  to 
send  them  out.  Therefore,  it  is  here  proposed  to  centralize 
them — to  plant  them  in  masses,  in  definite  districts  —  sub- 
jecting them  to  certain  conditions,  which  shall  render  it  an 
object  for  them  to  go,  and  also,  for  the  society  to  send  them. 
Listen  •  "  For  the  want  of  means  to  defray  such  expenses, 
thousands  to  whom  the  change  would  be  the  greatest  of 
human  blessings,  are  now  existing  in  misery  and  want ;  or 
driven  to  extremity  for  lack  of  employment,  submit  even  to 
pait  with  the  last  few  shillings  they  possess,  for  a  passage 
in  an  American  vessel ;  there  to  be  crowded  together  in 
hundreds,  under  circumstances  of  nearly  as  great  discom- 
fort and  privation,  as  formerly  attended  the  negroes  from 
the  African  coast.  They  arrive  penniless  in  the  United 
States  —  and  more  frequently  than  not,  they  are  disap- 
pointed in  finding  work  at  the  port  of  landing  —  and  hear- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"           171 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

ing  they  can  secure  it  in  the  West,  they  attempt  this  long 
journey  on  foot,  relying  solely  for  support  by  begging  on 
the  way ;  — and  it  is  known,  that  many  fall  victims  to  fa- 
tigue, hunger,  or  disease,  and  never  reach  that  home  sought 
for,  under  every  degree  of  uncertainty." 

Now,  to  prevent  these  unpropitious  circumstances  of  the 
lower  classes,  the  pamphlet  proposes  the  following  course  — 

"  The  object  in  view,  being  to  provide  a  remedy  for  these 
evils,  it  is  conceived  the  means  of  doing  so,  are  of  ready 
application ;  and  that  this  centralization  system  may  be 
carried  out  to  its  fullest  extent,  by  locating  the  Irish  poor 
in  the  Western  states  of  America ;  already  so  much  fre- 
quented by  their  countrymen  and  relations.  The  blanks 
thus  created,  by  the  export  of  considerable  numbers  of 
these  people,  from  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  would  mate- 
rially tend  to  afford  immediate  relief  under  the  existing 
pressure;  while  the  wealthy  capitalist,  and  experienced 
farmer,  of  ANY  CREED,  will  not  hesitate  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  ever-enduring  toil,  of  these  poor  people  ;  when, 
as  under  the  contemplated  system,  their  labor  can  be  se- 
sured,  on  a  soil,  perhaps  the  most  productive  in  the  world. 
It  is  not  proposed  to  force  nature,  by  cultivating  lands 
where  the  profitable  results  may  be  doubtful;  or  to  monop- 
olize large  tracts  of  country,  and  thus  look  up  the  funds  of 
the  society,  in  unwieldly  purchases;  leaving  little  or  no 
means  for  the  development  of  the  system.  Such  experi- 
ments have  already  been  tried  —  with  what  result  is  well 
known.  It  is  proposed  in  the  first  instance,  to  purchase 
primitive,  or  other  tracts  of  land  in  the  United  States,  of 
moderate  extent,  and  selected,  as  being  most  readily  brought 
into  the  highest  state  of  cultivation ;  or  as  being  likely 
from  position,  to  become  the  sites  hereafter  of  towns  and 
cities;  such  land  may  be  obtained  from  the  Government, 
at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre." 

Selecting  the  Mississippi  Valley,  as  the  portion  of  our 


172          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

country  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  views,  they  give 
it  the  following  description  — 

"The  first  settlement  should  be  made  in  those  fertile 
prairie  districts,  situated  on  the  southern  sides  of  the  Can- 
adian Lakes,  where  slavery  is  unknown ;  arid  the  elevation 
and  temperament  of  which,  will  in  all  seasons,  insure  the 
health  of  the  European  settler.  They  would  be  comprised 
in  the  rich  and  productive  States  of  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indi- 
ana, Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Missouri,  and  Iowa ;  forming  a 
large  portion  of  the  North  Western  valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi; of  which  M.  De  Tocqueville,  emphatically  says, 
"  If  a  paridise  is  to  be  found  on  earth,  it  is  there!" 
Capt.  Marryatt,  in  his  impartial  and  interesting  "  Diary  " 
in  America,  says,  (vol  ii.  p.  73,)  This  beautiful  and  fertile 
region,  appears  as  if  Nature  had  so  arranged  it,  that  man 
should  have  all  the  difficulties  cleared  from  before  him ; 
and  have  little  to  do  but  to  take  possession  and  enjoy. — 
There  is  no  clearing  of  timber  requisite;  on  the  contrary, 
you  have  just  as  much  as  you  can  desire,  whether  for  use, 
or  ornament. 

"Prairies  of  fine  rich  grass,  upon  which  the  cattle  fatten 
in  three  or  four  months,  lie  spread  in  every  direction.  The 
soil  is  so  fertile,  that  you  have  but  to  turn  it  up,  to  make  it 
yield  grain  to  any  extent;  and  the  climate  is  healthy;  and 
at  the  same  time,  there  is  more  than  sufficient  sun,  in  the 
summer  and  autumn,  to  bring  every  crop  to  perfection. 

"  Land  carriage  is  scarcely  required,  from  the  numerous 
rivers  and  streams,  which  pour  their  waters  from  every  di- 
rection, into  the  Mississippi.  Add  to  all  this,  that  the  west- 
ern lands  possess  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  all  minerals, 
only  a  few  feet  under  the  surface  of  their  rich  soil ;  a  sin- 
gular and  wonderful  provision ;  as,  in  general,  where  miner- 
als are  found  below,  the  soil  is  usually  arid  and  ungrateful. 

"Of  these  mineral  products,  coal,  the  most  useful  of  all, 
is  inexhaustible;  while  no  portion  of  the  globe,  can  vie 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          173 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

with  these  regions,  in  the  united  production,  (wherever 
their  cultivation  has  been  tried,)  of  tobacco,  flax,  hemp, 
wool,  silk,  grain,  fruits;  and  all  those  animals,  most  gen- 
erally used  or  consumed  by  man ;  and  cotton  abounds  in 
the  adjoining  districts." 

They  give  other  reasons  for  selecting  the  northern  part 
of  the  western  States,  which  they  find  in  the  facilities  for 
reaching  the  field.  Let  us  notice  them  : 

"The  facilities  for  conveying  emigrants  to  those  locali- 
ties, are  now  rendered  most  easy  and  economical;  for  in- 
dependent of  those  afforded  by  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  Que- 
bec; daily  opportunities  occur,  of  obtaining  passage  in  well 
prepared  vessels,  to  New  York,  Philadelphia,  or  New  Or- 
leans ;  from  which  places,  ready  means  of  transit  are  at 
hand,  by  either  of  the  three  main  routes.  To  reach  those 
districts  in  which  the  society  first  contemplate  to  settle, 
easy  and  daily  conveyance,  during  the  proper  season,  is  to 
be  found  from  New  York,  by  the  Hudson  river,  and  Erie 
canal,  to  lake  Erie ;  to  which  point,  (from  New  York  di- 
rect,) a  railway  is  now,  also,  in  course  of  rapid  formation. 
From  thence,  by  means  of  steam-boats  on  the  lakes,  equal 
facilities  are  afforded  to  those  departing  from  either  shore, 
to  make  their  point  of  destination.  It  may  not,  they  say, 
be  improper  to  notice  the  opinion  of  captain  Marryatt,  on 
the  importance  to  both  countries,  of  the  steam  communica- 
tion on  these  lakes.  How  little  are  they  aware,  in  Europe, 
of  the  vastness  and  extent  of  commerce,  carried  on  in  these 
inland  seas ;  whose  coasts  are  now  lined  with  flourishing 
towns  and  cities ;  and  whose  waters  are  ploughed  by  mag- 
nificent steamboats,  and  hundreds  of  vessels,  laden  with 
merchandise." 

In  the  south  and  south-eastern  direction,  still  greater 
numbers  pass  to  these  States,  which  are  now  becoming  the 
great  point  of  attraction,  by  way  of  Philadelphia ;  whence, 
reaching  Pittsburgh  by  canal,  the  Ohio  river,  with  its  count- 
less steam  boats,  affords  instant  conveyance  to  all  who  are 


174          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

intent  on  reaching  these  lands  of  promise.  There  is  a  third 
route,  and  one  which,  al  no  distant  day,  •will,  in  all  proba- 
bility, be  more  usually  adopted  than  any  other,  viz :  by 
the  numerous  vessels,  which,  having  landed  their  cotton 
cargoes  in  Europe,  return  to  New  Orleans;  these  steamers 
daily  ascend  the  Mississippi,  which,  as  far  as  to  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Ohio,  is  navigable  at  all  seasons  ;  being  un- 
like some  of  the  waters  above  that  point,  uninfluenced  by 
drought  or  frost.  No  vessel  enters  the  great  commercial 
port  of  New  Orleans,  which  could  not  be  towed  by  steam 
tugs,  to  the  last  named  port.  Indeed,  the  Mississippi,  up 
to  the  junction  of  this  vast  stream,  with  the  Ohio,  might 
be  more  properly  termed  an  inlet  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  without  its  storms,  than  a  river;  for  steam  has  now 
given  it  the  same  facilities  in  navigation,  as  the  ocean,  of 
which  it  is  the  most  important  tributary. 

Facts  are  adduced,  of  sufficient  weight,  to  convince  every 
impartial  reader,  that  no  part  of  the  United  States,  could 
be  better  chosen,  for  the  first  operations  of  the  society,  than, 
that  which  natives,  as  well  as  strangers  are  alike  eager  to 
possess.  Enough  has  also  been  said,  in  favor  of  the  soci- 
ety's choice  of  location ;  and  a  glance,  (they  say)  at  the 
accompanying  skeleton  map,  will  clearly  demonstrate  the 
judgement  displayed  in  its  selection.  (Having  the  names  of 
the  states,  our  readers  are  well  enough  versed  in  geography 
to  be  in  no  want  of  maps.) 

The  pamphlet  proceeds  to  argue  in  favor  of  the  United 
States,  rather  than  the  British  possessions ;  yet  winds  ur> 
by  saying,  "when,  and  where  fair  prospects  present  them- 
selves, and  adequate  capital  is  provided,  the  society  will 
readily  devote  its  earnest  attention  to  British  America,  or 
any  other  colony,  however  distant."  But  next  comes  a 
view  of  the  means  by  which  the  Jesuitical  society  is  to 
carry  out  their  plans.  These,  briefly,  are  as  follow:  — 
"  The  society  bears  the  expense  of  transporting  the  emi- 
grant, and  meets  his  first  wants  on  the  field;  and,  in  re- 


"THINGS     NEW    AND    OLD,"  175 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

turn,  the  emigrant  pledges  himself  to  labor  for  a  period  not 
less  than  three  years,  at  reduced  wages,  for  the  society ; 
and  placed  under  the  direction  of  his  priest.  The  improve- 
ments thus  made,  are  the  property  of  the  society ;  and  are 
to  be  rendered  profitable,  in  a  way  also  specified. 

The  next  point  is,  how  emigrants  are  to  be  obtained,  and 
their  faithful  co-operation  secured. 

It  has  become  a  fact,  notorious  everywhere,  what  won- 
derful, not  to  say  miraculous  results,  the  temperance  pledge, 
administered  by  Rev.  Father  Mathew,  and  the  Irish  clergy, 
has  wrought  upon  the  peasantry  of  that  country.  All  wit- 
ness with  wonder,  and  are  lost  in  admiration  of  its  efficacy. 

That  country,  where  it  was  almost  considered  unmanerly 
and  certainly  unsocial,  to  be  habitually  sober;  is  now,  by 
the  extraordinary  power  of  the  pledge,  thus  administered, 
become  as  admirable  for  the  industry  and  sobriety  of  its 
inhabitants,  as  it  was  previously  noted  for  their  irregular 
and  riotous  habits.  A  solemn  pledge,  given  to  his  parish 
priest,  (whom,  in  general,  the  Catholic  fears  more  than  the 
wrath  of  God,)  has  had  influence  sufficient  to  make  an 
Irish  peasant  forego  the  enjoyment  of  a  pleasure,  which, 
according  to  his  estimate  of  human  happiness,  perhaps 
Tanked  as  its  chief  ingredient;  and  the  relinquishment  of 
which,  must,  certainly,  at  first,  have  been  one  of  the  great- 
est privations  he  could  submit  to.  Is  it  then  for  a  moment 
to  be  believed,  that  this  man  would  less  rigidly  observe 
a  pledge  to  serve  the  same  pastor,  diligently  and  faithfully 
for  a  given  period,  who  should  promise  to  lead  him  and  his 
family  from  a  land  of  misery  and  want,  to  one,  where,  with 
fair  remuneration  for  his  labor,  he  would  be  insured  whole- 
some and  abundant  food,  —  a  comfortable  habitation,  — 
and  that  which  is  most  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  Irishman, 
however  uncultivated,  the  uninterrupted  and  peaceful  en- 
joyment of  the  religion  of  his  fore-fathers,  with  the  same 
facilities  he  enjoyed  in  his  native  land  ?  And  what  is  to 
be  required  of  him,  in  return  for  these  unlooked-for  bles- 


176          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

sings?  Why,  that  he  should  place  his  labor,  and  that  ol 
his  family,  at  the  disposal  of  the  priests  of  the  contem- 
plated society,  for  a  period,  in  no  instance  exceeding  three 
years;  at  a  rate  of  wages  below  those  of  America,  but 
probably  double  what  he  would  receive  at  home,  under  the 
most  fortunate  circumstances;  and  on  a  spot,  too,  where 
the  same  amount  of  money,  would  purchase  him  double 
the  quantity  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  Less  could  not  be 
expected  by  the  society,  in  return  for  a  free  passage  and 
transit  to  the  location  first  assigned  to  these  emigrants,  and 
where  a  comfortable  and  suitable  dwelling  would  be  pro- 
vided for  them. 

Several  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  Irish  clergy, 
have  consented  to  administer  this  pledge,  as  a  reward  to 
such  as  have  strictly  observed  that  of  temperance;  fully 
believing,  that  in  so  doing,  they  would  be  consulting  the 
best  interests  of  their  people ;  provided  it  was  arranged, 
that  a  Catholic  (hear  see  him)  pastor  should  always  ac- 
company each  body  of  emigrants,  unless  the  intended  lo- 
cation already  possessed  a  Catholic  church,  and  resident 
clergyman  !  ! !  Who  shall  doubt  that  those  who  have  ob- 
served one  pledge  to  forego  an  enjoyment,  with  such  scru- 
pulous exactitude,  will  not  as  religiously  adhere  to  the 
other,  with  its  evident  advantages? 

Little  difficulty  can  attend  the  working  of  such  a  system, 
where  the  wants,  dispositions,  and  inclinations  of  their 
flocks,  are  so  well  known  to  their  pastors,  as -is  the  case  in 
Ireland.  He  has  been  constantly  habituated  to  watch  over 
those,  committed  to  his  care,  with  the  most  patient  and  un- 
remitting attention — to  administer  to  their  necessities  — 
arrange  their  differences — and  in  the  hour  of  affliction, 
sickness,  and  death,  to  be  the  bearer  of  that  consolation, 
which  comes  only  from  Him,  who  said,  "  I  know  my  sheep, 
and  my  sheep  know  me."  A  pledge  made  to  him,  will  be 
as  surely  kept  in  the  distant  land,  as  if  it  were  only  to  b« 
observed  at  home.  Self-interest  alone,  (setting  aside  thi 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          177 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

ties  of  conscience  and  gratitude)  would  secure  the  strict 
observance  of  the  pledge  required  ;  for,  as  stated  before, 
nature  would  in  no  instance  be  forced;  and  the  principle  of 
the  Society,  would  be  to  place  the  emigrant  on  a  soil,  which 
he  would  never  be  anxious  to  quit;  by  making  choice  of 
such  only,  as  accord  with  the  foregoing  descriptions  — 
where  little  remains  to  be  done,  but  to  take  possession  and 
enjoy. 

The  profitable  results  ^of  this  system,   to  the   Society, 
would  be  very  great  ;  and,  it  would  bring  increase  of  wealth, 


to  the  country  of  their  adoption;  and  what  is  sti 
more  gratifying,   would,  whilstj  providing  for 

£3=  temporal  wants  of  thousands  ;  INTRODUCE  RE-  «,.£() 
LIGION,  and  INSTRUCTION,  INTO  A  COUN- 
TRY.  where  both  are  sure  to  meet  with  the  most  lib- 

05s*  eral  encouragement. 

6  fc  b  b  b  fc  'b  V  VVJM»  fe. 

Well,  reader;  we  begin  to  spy,  I  think,  that  this  enter- 
prise partakes  a  little'of  the  nature  and  policy  of  the  old 
'•'Man  of  Sin."  Indeed,  what  follows,  shows  that  a  pro- 
motion of  the  exclusive  interests  of  Romanism,  is  guaran- 
teed by  the  provisions  of  the  plan. 

"It  must  be  distinctly  understood,  that  no  pledge  would 
be  given  the  poorest  Irish,  to  locate  in  spots  unprovided 
with  chapels  and  clergy  of  their  own  religion;  without 
which  their  labor  would  be  unattainable  ;  therefore  the  re- 
quisite funds  for  the  maintenance,  and  education  of  priests, 
and  the  support  of  churches,  must  be  provided  out  of  the 
resources  of  the  Society.  Without  this  arrangement,  the 
scheme  would  prove  abortive  —  and  it  would  be  highly  re- 
prehensible and  dishonest,  to  administer  the  pledge. 

"iThose  who  have  watched  the  movements  of  the  bee, 
have  seen  the  young  swarm,  on  leaving  the  hive,  (alike  the 
perfect  emblem  of  industry,  iand  colonization)  in  which 

12 


178          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

they  were  generated  ;  moving  from  plain  to  plain,  in  restless 
confusion;  till,  arrested  by  some  cause,  not  apparent  ;  the 
mass  of  settlers  clings  to  some  distant  bough,  unprepared 
\yith,  and  unable,  to  provide  a  new  home.  The  cottager, 
with  anxious  care  to  secure  the  services  of  these  industri- 
ous laborers,  — perhaps  the  main  support  of  his  family - 
has  prepared  a  new  habitation  for  them ;  but  old  experi- 
ence has  taught  him,  that  without  securing  the  centre  of 
attraction,  (the  roaming  queen)  his  efforts  to  retain  her  fol- 
lowers must  be  in  vain.  When  she  is  placed  in  the  new 
dwelling,  then,  and  not  till  then,  does  this  young  colony 
settle  in  a  state  of  tranquility,  and  betake  itself  cheerfully 
to  its  useful  labors,  creating  a  fresh  store  of  wealth;  while 
the  parent  hive,  to  all  appearance,  has  suffered  no  diminu- 
tion, of  either  its  strength,  or  powers  of  production. 

"The  religion  of  his  forefathers,  and  his  parish  priest,  are 
the  Irishman's  centre  of  attraction,  and  his  queeri-bee. 
The  cottager's  success  is,  in  increasing  the  number  of  his 
heirs;  and  thus  his  wealth  depends  on  their  possession.  In 
like  manner,  you  may  locate  the  Irish ;  you  may  pledge 
them  to  temperance  —  to  residence  in  a  fixed  spot  —  to  give 
them  labor  at  a  fixed  price — and  entirely  carry  out  the 
society's  plan;  but  if  you  expect  those  pledges  to  be  rig- 
idly and  strictly  adhered  to,  you  must  provide  them  with  a 
place  of  worship,  and  a  pastor;  you  must  afford  them  the 
peaceful  and  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  the  practices  of 
religion,  according  to  their  ancient  creed.  Without  resident 
pastors,  they  cannot  be  retaine4  to  give  that  labor  on  a 
fixed  location,  which  would  otherwise  be  so  cheerfully  be- 
stowed. 

This  project,  indeed,  the  more  we  contemplate  it,  be- 
comes the  more  interesting.  The  idea  of  propagating  Ro- 
manism, by  means  of  the  Catholic  "poor,"  is  truly  a  master 
stroke  of  policy !  Look  at  its  results  in  Glasgow.  "  The 
Irishman's  first  care  was  then,  what  it  is  now,  and  ever 
will  be,  to  devote  what  little  surplus  remains  after  the  fru- 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"  179 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

gal  wants  of  nature  were  satisfied,  voluntarily  to  aid  in  the 
support  of  his  pastor;  and  to  assist  him  in  the  construction 
of  a  temple  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the  God  who  had 
thus  conferred  on  him  means,  exceeding  what  his  necessities 
required.  Glasgow  has  been  adduced,  as  an  example  of 
this  position;  for,  like  most  of  the  rising  cities  of  America, 
it  owes  its  advancement  to  an  excellent  commercial  loca- 
tion ;  one  that  would  amply  repay  the  labor  and  capital 
laid  out  on  its  design  ;  in  the  construction  of  docks,  wharves, 
fortresses,  and  all  other  necessary  establishments  of  com- 
merce. The  demand  for  labor,  in  its  various  works  and 
improvements,  exceeded  the  means  of  supply,  afforded 
even  by  Scotland,  populous  and  industrious  as  she  is  al- 
lowed to  be;  and  the  employment  of  the  redundant  popu- 
lation of  Ireland,  was  absolutely  necessary,  to  complete 
those  great  operations,  which  could  not  have  been  other- 
wise accomplished. 

The  followers  of  John  Knox,  had  certainly  no  natural 
predilection  for  the  religion  of  the  Irish ;  but  their  labor 
was  indispensable ;  and  the  scale  of  interest,  weighing  down 
that  of  religious  prejudice,  enabled  the  enterprising  inhab- 
itants of  Glasgow,  to  reap  the  profits  of  their  well  arranged 
calculations.  Wages  beyond  expenditure,  and  constant 
employment  for  a  given  period,  were  the  necessary  conse- 
quences. The  number  has  now,  increased  to  more  than 
eighty  thousand,  in  this  city  and  its  vicinity ;  and  other  • 
Catholic  churches  and  pastors,  have  been  and  still  will  be 
the  natural  consequence.  Thus  has  heaven,  in  its  own  time, 
once  more,  made  the  poor  its  instruments,  for  again  intro- 
ducing into  our  large  towns  and  cities,  that  religion,  which 
the  first  humble  apostles  (think  of  the  Pope  and  his  minions, 
using  such  language  as  this !)  were  instructed  to  teach  to  all 
nations,  and  to  all  people;  and  in  this  particular  instance, 
restoring  those  altars  to  the  original  faith ;  the  very  memory 
of  which,  the  destructive  spirit  of  Puritanism,  in  former 
days,  conceived  it  had  obliterated  forever.  We  here  see 


180          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

how  the  interests  of  commerce,  and  the  pursuit  of  wealth, 
passing  through  the  filtration  of  Irish  labor,  have  produced 
effects,  which  the  ignorant  attribute  alone,  to  a  rich  priest- 
hood, and  a  wealthy  .aristocracy.  In  like  manner,  to  the 
pence  of  these  poor  Irish,  are  mainly,  attributed,  the  splen- 
did Catholic  churches,  which  have  risen  up  in  Liverpool, 
Manchester,  Birmingham,  and  our  other  great  manufactur- 
ing cities ;  to  say  nothing  of  how  their  multiplied  mites 
contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  Catholic  cathedral  in 
Moorfields,  and  the  progress  now  making,  in  rearing  the 
magnificent  church  in  the  borough ;  (notwithstanding  the 
awful  distress,  at  present,  so  severely  pressing  on  the  poor) 
is  greatly  attributable  to  the  same  cause." 

Thus  having  settled  their  minds  upon  the  wisdom  and 
excellence  of  the  plan  of  using  the  "poor"  to  introduce  and 
establish  "Romanism,"  or  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  in  this  coun- 
try; they  have,  nevertheless,  seen  fit  to  pause,  and  start 
the  very  grave  question,  truly;  What  are  the  proba- 
bilites  as  to  success?  How  will  this  project  be  viewed  by 
Americans  1  Will  the  sons  of  the  pilgrims,  Huguenots, 
and  Covenanters,  who  fled  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Papacy 
in  Europe,  be  likely  to  endure  its  presence,  in  their  asylum, 
on  so  large  a  scale?  We  will  quote  the  speculations  and 
statements  of  the  pamphlet  on  this  subject ;  not,  however, 
because  we  consider  them  well  founded ;  but  in  order  to 
show  our  readers  how  well  adapted  this  scheme  is,  to  en- 
list the  zeal  of  Romanists  in  Europe.  By  the  following 
extract,  they  think  the  Americans  will  not  greatly  dislike 
to  have  the  Pope  for  their  near  neighbor ;  but  it  will  be 
perceived,  that  they  principally  go  to  prove,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans cannot  prevent  it  if  they  would !  Yes,  true  it  is, 
reader,  the  Catholics  no  longer  disguise  their  confidence  of 
obtaining  the  ascendency  in  this  country. 

"  By  the  method  and  regulations  contemplated  by  this 
Society,  (as  the  prospectus,  which  is  to  guide  its  operations, 
will  fully  detail,)  all  direct  contributions  for  such  object, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  181 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

from  any  class  of  society,  will  be  avoided;  and  it  is  ex- 
pected, that  the  fertile  soil  of  America,  will,  with  the  aid 
of  Irish  labor,  produce  a  combination  of  results,  highly 
remunerating  to  subscribers;  much  gratification  to  the 
friends  and  supporters  of  the  Catholic  religion,  and  no  more 
regret  with  those  whom  'prejudice  may,  perchance,  have 
biased  against  its  introduction,  than  is  now  felt  by  those  in 
this  country ;  who,  in  making  Irish  Catholic  labor,  a  step- 
ping stone  to  wealth,  have  simultaneously,  introduced  a 
knowledge  of  the  true  principles  which  govern  its  religion, 
and  which  will  naturally,  be  the  more  appreciated,  as  it 
becomes  more  generally  diffused." 

That  they  will  be  viewed  without  alarm,  nay,  even  held 
in  estimation,  in  the  Western  parts  of  the  United  States, 
cannot  be  doubted,  by  any  one  who  reads  the  annexed  ex- 
tracts of  Capt  Marryatt's  interesting  Diary;  (see  vol.  3, 
pp.  157,  161) 

"  If  the  Protestant  cause  is  growing  weaker  every  day, 
from  division,  and  indifference;  there  is  one  creed,  which 
is  rapidly  gaining  strength  ;  I  refer  to  the  Catholic  church, 
which  is,  silently,  but  surely,  advancing.  Though  it  is  not 
forty  years  since  the  first  Roman  Catholic  See,  was  created; 
there  is  now  in  the  United  States,  a  Catholic  population  of 
800,000  souls,  under  the  government  of  the  Pope,  an  Arch- 
bishop, twelve  Bishops,  and  433  Priests.  This  was  true, 
several  years  since  —  the  Catholic  population  in  the  United 
States,  in  1842,  was  estimated  at  1,400,000,  and  the  num- 
ber of  priests  at  560.  Its  great  field  is  in  the  West —  where, 
in  some  States,  almost  all  are  Catholics;  or  from  neglect, 
and  ignorance,  altogether  indifferent  about  religion.  But 
the  Catholic  priests  are  diligent,  and  make  a  large  number 
of  converts  every  year;  and  the  Catholic  population  is  ad- 
ded to,  by  the  number  of  Irish  and  German  emigrants  to 
the  West;  who  are  almost  all  of  them,  of  the  Catholic  per- 
suasion." (p.  17.) 

The  pamphlet  also  quotes  Miss  Martineau,   who  says. 


182  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

"The  Catholics  of  the  country,  thinking  themselves  now, 
sufficiently  numerous,  to  bean  American  Catholic  church, 
a  great  stimulous  has  been  given  to  proselytism :  this  has 
awakened  fear,  and  persecution ;  which  last,  has  been  fa- 
vorable to  the  increase  of  the  Catholics." 

While  the  Presbyterians  preach  a  harsh,  ascetic,  perse- 
cuting religion;  the  Catholics  dispense  a  mild  and  indul- 
gent one;  and  the  prodigious  increase  of  their  numbers,  is 
a  necessary  consequence.  It  has  been  so  impossible  to  sup- 
ply the  demand  for  priests,  that  the  term  of  education  has 
been  shortened  by  two  years. 

The  author  of  the  "Voice  from  America,"  remarks  — 
"The  Protestant  cause,  in  America,  is  weak,  from  the  ef- 
fects of  the  voluntary  system;  particularly,  from  its  divi- 
sion into  so  many  sects.  "A  house  divided  against  itself, 
cannot  st.uid;"  and  every  year,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
Catholic  church  is  increasing  its  power  —  and  it  is  a  ques- 
tion, whether  a  Hierarchy  may  not  eventually,  be  raised; 
which,  so  far  from  advocating  the  principles  of  equality, 
may  serve  as  a  check  to  the  spirit  of  Democracy;  thus  be- 
coming more  powerful  than  the  Government;  changing  public 
opinion  —  and  reducing  to  better  order,  the  present  chaotic 
state  of  society  !"  (Wei I. done,  Mr.  "  VOICE.")  And  again, 
they  quote  Judge  Halliburton,  as  sayii  g  of  the  Catholics 
hi  this  country  :  —  "  They  gain  constantly;  they  gain  more 
by  emigration ;  more  by  natural  increase  in  proportion  to 
their  mm  hers;  more  by  intermarriages,  by  adoption,  and 
conversion,  than  the  protestants.  With  their  exclusive 
views  of  salvation,  and  peculiar  traits,  as  soon  as  they 
have  the  majority,  this  becomes  a  Catholic  country —  with  a 
Catholic  Government,  with  the  Catholic  Religion,  estab- 
lished by  law!  Is  this  a  great  change  ? 

<(  A  greater  change  has  taken  place  among  the  British  — 
the  Medes  and  Persians  of  Europe — the  -nolumvs  leg-is  mu- 
tari  people.  What  then,  will  be  the  natural  order  and 
progress  of  events  now  in  train  here,  not  produce?  I  only 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  183 

TO    DIVERSE,    NOTABLE    FOOLS    AND   ASSES. 

speak  of  this ;  I  do  not  dread  it.  I  hope  and  trust  and  pray, 
that  it  may  be  so;  not  because  I  think  them  right,  for  1  do 
not;  but,  because  they  claim  to  be  a  Christian  church,  and 
because  it  is  a  church  ;  and  any  sect  is  better  than  the  snb- 
stitution  of  a  cold,  speculative  philosophy,  for  religion;  as 
we  see  too  frequently  among  us.  We  are  too  greedy  to  be 
moral  —  too  selfish  to  be  pious:  and  too  hfdependent  to  be 
religious.  United  under  one  head,  and  obedient  to  that 
head ;  with  the  countenance  and  aid  of  the  whole  Catholic 
world;  what  can  they  not  achieve?  Yes,  it  is  the  only 
cure  that  time,  and  a  merciful  Providence,  has  in  store  for 
us.  We  shall  be  a  catholic  country."  [p.  21. 

That  the  spiritual  predominance  of  Romanism,  is  not  all 
that  is  promised,  as  an  inducement  to  the  wealthy  Catholics 
of  Europe,  to  engage  in  this  Society,  is  very  significantly 
intimated  in  the  following  sentences,  a  part  of  which,  we 
place  in  italics,  to  secure  the  attention  of  the  reader.  First} 
it  quotes  a  remark  of  Dr.  Reed  :  "  The  west  will  become 
the  heart  of  the  country,  and  ultimately  determine  the 
character  of  the  whole."  In  a  note,  it  is  added  :  "  Losing 
sight  of  spiritual  considerations,  how  clearly,  in  a  temporal 
point  of  view,  does  this  observation  bespeak  the  district 
chosen  by  this  Society,  as  the  most  certain  to  realize  all 
anticipated  results  1 " 

What  other  anticipated  results,  the  writer  has  in  view, 
may  be  inferred  from  his  remark,  "That  the  Catholic  re- 
ligion cannot  fail,  in  its  influence,  to  soften  the  manners 
of  society,  and  to  curb  the  spirit  of  pride,  which  denies  re- 
spect to  superior  authority,  or  tends  to  a  belief  that  we 
were  created  to  be  independent  of  each  other;  ideas  unfor- 
tunately too  common,  in  the  early  stages  of  democracy." 

We  have  already  repeatedly  intimated  our  simple  con- 
viction on  the  subject  betore  us.  in  all  its  aspects  and  pres- 
ent bearings.  This  pamphlet  presents  the  permanently 
settled  system  of  policy  of  the  "  Man  of  Sin,"  or  Roman- 
ism, according  to  which,  his  legions  will  march  forward  to 


184  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

the  end  of  their  chain.  All  their  subsequent  questions  and 
problems,  will  be  worked  most  vigorously,  by  the  rules  of 
this  most  acute  and  sublime  arithmetic !  And,  as  1  r.m 
humbled  by  the  conviction  that  our  "king,"  as  foretold  by 
John,  has  actually  and  shamelessly,  "given  his  strength 
and  power  unto  the  beast"  —  that  is,  has  virtually  invited 
him  to  take  our  country,  our  civil  and  religious  interests, 
under  his  control ;  promising  him  every  facility  in  the  pow- 
er of  the  government  to  afford  —  1  cannot,  I  dare  not  say, 
with  hundreds  of  the  stupid  clerical  brethren,  "  that  I  do 
not  believe  that  God  will  abandon  to  the  dominion  of  An- 
te-Christ, our  schools,  our  republicanism,  and  the  living 
churches  of  this  land  —  the  revival  churches  !  —  the  church- 
es which  are  sending  missions  to  all  the  world"  !  ! !  Let 
me  ask  such  skillful  reasoners,  what  evidence  have  you, 
that  the  mode  in  which  you  have  prosecuted  your  missions, 
has  been  in  the  least  pleasing  to  God?  Where  have  you 
gained  such  a  position,  in  a  single  instance,  as  to  warrant 
the  conclusion  that  "  you  have"  not  "run  without  being 
sent"?  Will  any  of  the  congregations  of  your  heathen, 
professed  converts,  maintain  the  system  of  worship  you 
teach  them,  one  day  longer  than  whilst  you  continue  to 
exercise  dominion  over  them?  Reply  as  you  please.  We 
know  you  have  not  the  authority  to  point  to  one.  And 
such  being  the  fact,  before  high  heaven,  how  can  you  be 
so  stupid  as  to  glory  in  "  your  missions  to  all  the  world"  ? 
We  are  ashamed  of  you;  and  often  before,  have  been;  that 
you  should  thus,  in  the  face  of  evidence  against  your  plan 
of  operations,  "strong  as  proof  of  Holy  Writ,"  still  cling 
to  your  delusions;  and,  perhaps  not  intending  it,  but  really 
deluding  the  churches  by  whom  you  (the  officers  of  boards 
of  mission)  are  sustained  !  Why  then  should  not  God 
abandon  you  ? 

But  we  return  to  our  pamphlet.  Its  remainder  is  de- 
voted to  the  idea  of  the  expediency  of  extending  the  same 
plan  of  emigration  to  other  countries;  (they  will  have  the 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          186 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

whole ; )  especially,  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  and 
Prince  Edward's  Island;  but  they  conclude  that  — 

"  The  unceded  and  uncultivated  lands  of  these  provin- 
ces, as  well  as  in  the  Canadas,  are  more  or  less  covered 
with  timber;  and  where  the  cultivation  of  land,  must,  from 
necessity,  follow  its  clearance,  the  progress  of  agriculture 
will  be  slow,  in  the  proportion  of  at  least  fifty  to  one,  to 
what  it  would  be  in  a- prairie  country;  (such  as  character- 
izes the  provinces  already  described,  in  the  United  States,) 
and  thus  preveftt  the  quick  re-sale  of  land  brought  into  the 
first  stages  of  culture.  The  Association  will  not  fail,  how- 
ever, in  conjunction  with  these  provinces,  to  have  all  Brit- 
ish America  carefully  surveyed." 

The  pamphlet  expresses  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  the 
Canadas ;  and  quotes  several  writers,  and  particularly  the 
dispatches  of  the  late  lord  Durham,  to  show,  that  this  coun- 
try also,  is  a  desirable  object  of  Catholic  ambition.  Next 
come  various  arguments  for  the  plan ;  first,  profitableness 
and  safety  of  investments.  "It  has  been  already  stated, 
that,  by  the  leading  principles  governing  the  investments 
of  this  Society,  it  will,  in  no  instance,  whether  in  their  own 
colonies,  or  in  the  United  States,  purchase  larger  tracts  of 
land,  in  any  one  district,  than  its  financial  resources  can 
bring  into  the  first  stages  of  cultivation  ;  nor  will  it  invite 
over  emigrants,  until  employment  and  a  home  await  their 
arrival." 

By  this  method,  it  will  not  only  return  quick  profits,  but 
also  avoid  the  jealousy,  naturally  to  be  expected  in  a  for- 
eign country,  of  any  attempt  to  monopolize  large  tracts  of 
land.  It  is  therefore  proposed,  to  effect  sales,  at  periods, 
probably  never  exceeding  three  years  from  the  date  of  the 
original  purchase ;  or,  in  five,  when  the  advancement  made 
in  improvement  may  warrant  a  handsome  profit;  merely 
retaining  within  each  township,  the  land,  on  which  the 
temporary  Catholic  church,  shall  have  been  erected;  the 


186          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OB    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

house  of  its  minister;  the  school  house,  and  such  a  quanti- 
ty of  glebe  land,  as  the  society  may  hereafter  determine." 

We  percieve  in  the  next  place  —  the  pamphlet  represents, 
that  the  plan  of  this  Society  will  help  our  insolvent  states 
to  pay  their  debts,  arid  complete  their  public  works.  And 
we  cannot  omit  noticing  their  provision  for  their  priesthood. 

"  In  the  United  States,  at  this  period,  no  system  hitherto 
devised,  could  produce  so  rapid  and  systematic  a  revival  of 
National  wealth  ;  or,  more  effectually,  enable  each  State  to 
acquit  those  debts,  which  the  vast  resources  if  their  coun- 
try warranted  them  in  contracting;  in  anticipation  of  large 
annual  returns;  from  railways,  canals,  and  great  public 
works,  now  left  incomplete,  and  profitless,  solely  from  a 
want  of  more  capital !  After  paying  to  the  proprietors  a 
dividend  of  eight  per  cent,  it  is  proposed,  that  the  Society 
should  not  contemplate  making  any  greater  division  of 
profits;  but  that  it  should  re-invest  all  its  surplus,  in 
further  augmentation  of  capital.  By  these  means,  a  con- 
stant increase  of  land  will  be  always  advancing,  in  a  state 
of  improvement;  and  besides  adding  to  the  wealth  of  the 
Society,  be  an  equally  efficient  assistance,  in  exporting  pau- 
perism from  the  parent  state. 

"The  success  of  this  institution  is,  as  already  explained, 
from  its  very  nature,  mainly  dependent  on  a  supply  of 
missionaries,  to  keep  pace  with  its  advancement ;  and  there- 
fore a  portion  of  the  proceeds  of  every  re-sale,  will  be  set 
aside,  as  a  fund,  for  their  education  ;  and  another  part  will 
also  be  alotted,  to  support  charitable  endowments;  and  the 
education  of  the  poor.  The  dividend,  to  the  proprietors, 
(to  the  extent  of  eight  per  cent.)  always  to  take  precedence 
of  any  other  division  of  profits." 

They  speak  of  a  private  prospectus,  with  regard  to  their 
buisness  details,  which,  it  is  presumable,  will  be  exhibited 
only  to  those  who  einburk  in  the  enterprise.  We  pass  here, 
much  which  they  have  further  said,  on  this  branch  of  their 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"           187 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

subject,  as  not  material  to  our  purpose  —  and  proceed  to 
exhibit  a  few  paragraphs  which  show  the  adaptedness  of 
the  scheme,  to  enlist  the  interest  of  the  various  classes  of 
the  British  community.  First,  with  respect  to  those  of  rank 
without  wealth  : —  "  If  the  estate  be  small,  how  dearly  does 
the  favored  first  born,  pay  for  his  right  of  inheritance'.4  But 
passing  him  over  in  silence,  let  us  give  our  attention  to  the 
condition  of  his  brothers,  and  sisters;  and  reflect  upon  what 
slender  means  they  are  expected  to  support  their  now  ac- 
knowledged position  in  society.  How  much  better  would 
it  be,  that  in  lieu  of  merely  dragging  on  an  existence,  under 
privations,  which  almost  involve  a  sense  of  degradation ; 
they  should,  with  their  scanty  patrimony,  emigrate  to  lands, 
where  their  presence  would  be  welcomed;  their  small  cap- 
ital, produce  a  handsome  return ;  and  where  the  dead 
weight  of  distinctions,  in  local  rank,  would  not  clog  their 
efforts,  iu  the  acquirement  of  honorable  independence? 
Were  this  system  of  emigration  followed  up.  by  the  class 
here  alluded  to,  they  would  act  as  leaders,  in  inspiring  con- 
fidence in  the  plan,  among  the  poorer  emigrants;  whilst 
their  better  education,  and  refined  manners,  would  give  -a 
tone  to  the  rising  society,  of  the  new  country  of  their 
adoption. " 

And,  again,  saith  the  pamphlet:  —  "Are  not  the  difficul- 
ties, in  the.  way  of  contracting  marriages,  in  early  life, 
between  those  of  the  same  rank,  solely  attributable  to  over 
population;  and,  to  the  utter  impossibility,  of  the  com- 
bined fortunes  of  a  young  couple,  say  from  £1,000  to£5,0(JO, 
enabling  them  to  possess,  in  the  marriage  state,  the  comforts, 
or  to  maintain  the  appearance,  expected  from  them  in  their 
respective  classes?  " 

The  society  proposes  to  remove  the  obstacles  which  now 
deter  such  parties  from  emigrating,  by  preparing  land,  (and 
whenever  such  may  be  demanded)  suitable  residences  for 
them;  and  then,  how  many,  with  a  very  moderate  for- 
tune ;  no  more  than  would  have  purchased  a  commission 


188          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

in  the  army  —  would  be  in  a  condition  proper  to  marry,  in 
the  vigor  of  youth,  and  health,  both,  according  to  their 
own  inclinations,  and  in  their  own  sphere  of  life. 

As  to  the  professions,  overstocked  —  the  pamphlet  pro- 
ceeds :  —  "  The  practice  of  the  law  or  learned  professions, 
is  already  overstocked  by  men  of  talent,  whose  exertions  to 
advance,  are  but  too  often  futile;  and  whose  energies  are 
broken  by  despair;  or  diverted  by  disapointrnent,  into 
channels,  not  only  useless,  but  prejudicial  to  society,  and 
to  themselves.  War  is  now  made  upon  paper  ;  numerous 
protocols,  and  lengthened  negotiations,  wear  out  the  spirit 
of  enmity,  and  promotion,  in  the  army  or  navy,  becomes 
every  day,  less  frequent.  Church  preferment,  grows  but 
slowly ;  and  its  hitherto  tempting  endowments,  rest  upon 
a  very  precarious  basis.  [This  is,  as  it  should  be.]  The 
emoluments  derivable  from  the  two  last,  are  but  a  life  in- 
terest, at  best  —  and  seldom  proportioned  to  the  attainment 
of  ease,  and  the  desired  comforts  of  life,  till  the  days  of 
enjoyment  are  passed  away." 

Next,  follow  reasons  for  residents  on  the  continent  to 
enter  into  their  scheme: 

"  More  than  fifty  thousand  persons  of  limited  incomes, 
are  now  reported  to  live,  or  rather  vegetate,  on  the  conti- 
nent, driven  there  for  economy  —  and  where  all  necessaries 
of  life  cost  fully  double,  what  they  may  be  obtained  for  in 
the  Western  States  of  America.  Suppose  each  to  spend 
only  £50,  it  gives  an  aggregate  of  £2,500,000,  expended 
without  the  smallest  outlay,  in  English  manufactures.  In- 
stead of  which,  by  locating  themselves  upon  the  estates  of 
this  society,  by  purchasing  some  of  its  prepared  lands, 
which  will  be  immediately  productive  —  they  will -unite 
healthful  occupation  and  increased  economy  ;  become  grad- 
ually possessors  of  most  valuable  estates;  and  enjoy,  at  the 
same  time,  the  pleasing  satisfaction,  of  still  benefiting  their 
native  laud,  by  the  constant  purchase  of  English  exports." 

But  in  all  their  classes  of  emigrants,   they  propose  there 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          189 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

shall  be  no  artisans,  sent  out  under  their  Society.  "  In  thus 
selecting  the  Irish  agricultural  population,  as  emigrants,  on 
the  proposed  plan ;  attention  has  been  paid  to  three  facts ; 
first,  that  a  knowledge  of  agriculture,  (in  a  greater  or  less 
improved  state)  is  common  to  all  the  world ;  and  requires 
little  or  no  apprenticeship,  or  peculiar  skill,  in  the  laborer; 
second,  that  these  people  have  sacredly  kept  a  pledge  to 
their  pastor,  and  therefore  may  be  again  trusted ;  and  third, 
even  this  pledge-system,  to  extend  to  our  manufacturing 
artisans,  so  far  from  deriving  a  benefit  from  their  emigra- 
tion ;  we  should  injure  the  parent  country ;  for  with  their 
persons,  they  would  not  only  export  their  craft,  but  if  suc- 
cess attended  first  efforts,  it  would  produce  numerous  fol- 
lowers of  the  same  class;  (with  strong  feelings  of  past 
sufferings  brooding  in  their  minds,)  who,  eventually,  might 
have  weight  enough  in  the  scale  of  jealousy  and  democra- 
cy, to  exclude  English  manufactures  from  the  United 
States;  and  thus,  with  our  best  operative  talent,  endeavor 
to  monopolize  to  themselves,  the  benefits  of  commerce,  as 
well  as  of  agriculture. 

But  we  come,  here,  to  their  conclusion  of  the  pamphlet  — 
and  they  furnish  it  in  emphatic  capitals.  And  if  any 
thing  can  furnish  evidence,  that  this  Society  rely  with 
confidence  upon  the  cordial  sympathy  and  support  of  every 
crowned  head,  and  potentate  in  Europe,  their  language  here 
has  furnished  it.  It  runneth  thus : 

"  The  co-operation  of  other  European  nations  in  promot- 
ing the  objects  of  this  Society,  is  most  desirable ;  particu- 
larly of  those  possessing  a  redundant  population  ;  and  who. 
like  ourselves,  are  anxious  to  find  a  foreign  market  for  the 
productions  of  their  own  country."  And  this  is  followed 
by  a  note :  "  The  western  districts  may  be  said  to  have  a 
particular  claim  to  the  patronage  of  France,  as  it  was  un- 
der their  former  sovereignty,  that  their  vast  resources,  and 
facility  of  connexion  between  the  northern  lakes,  and  the 
first  navigable  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi,  were  discov- 


, 
190          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ered  by  those  enterprizing  and  amiable  French  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries, Hennepin  and  La  Salle.  As  to  Belgium  and  Ger- 
many, it  is  almost  useless  lo  call  on  them  for  greater  sup- 
port than  is  already  furnished  by  the  mass  of  Catholic 
population,  daily  flowing  from  these  kingdoms,  into  the  fer- 
tile west!  In  proof  of  this,  St.  Louis,  risen  up,  as  it  were 
but  yesterday,  in  the  heart  of  this  country,  now  (in  1842,) 
boasts  of  more  than  thirty  thousand  inhabitants;  twelve 
thousand  of  which,  are  German,  Belgian,  French,  and  Irish 
Catholics;  mainly  attracted  by  the  system  of  education, 
afforded  by  the  Belgian  Jesuits,  who  have  not  only  been 
the  means  of  establishing  a  magnificent  cathedral  in  this 
city,  but  also  a  "Jesuit  college,"  now  classed  so  high  in 
affording  instruction;  that  beyond  the  commendations  uni- 
versally bestowed  on  its  internal  arrangements,  its  rules 
may  be  almost  said  to  hold  out  the  best  model  for  diffusing 
knowledg-  through  the  West"! 

Our  invitation  is  especially  applicable  to  Belgium,  France, 
and  a  large  portion  of  Germany.  They  contain  a  consid- 
erable population ;  and,  a  priesthood,  in  the  rural  districts, 
like  that,  of  Ireland ;  possessing,  fully,  the  confidence  and 
the  affections  of  the  people.  These  countries,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  France,  have  no  colonies  of  their  own  ;  a  fact, 
which  should  act  as  an  additional  reason,  for  their  cordial 
co-operation.  They  have  all,  luxurious  produce,  and  man- 
ufactured articles  to  export;  and  though  grain  may  not  be 
with  them,  as  with  us,  an  object  of  barter ;  they  may,  after 
depositing  their  emigrants,  and  exports;  always  find  a 
profitable  iv  loading,  at  New  Orleans,  Philadelphia,  New 
York,  or  any  other  port." 

We  here,  only  add,  in  conclusion  —  that  we  have  now  per- 
formed our  duty  to  God,  and  our  fellow  countrymen,  with 
respect  to  this  document  of  the  "Roman  Catholic  Emigra- 
tion Society."  It  well  illustrates  many  trails  in  the  char- 
of  this  "  Man  of  Sin."  On  that  account  it  is,  that  we 
have  here,  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs,  exhibited  its  great 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  191 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND   ASSES. 

and  leading  features;  that  our  readers  may  become  ac- 
quainted with  it.  It  merits  the  earnest  perusal  of  all  de- 
generated Puritans,  and  Republicans;  yes!  of  every  well 
wisher,  to  American  Protestants ;  as  we,  have  not  the 
remnant  of  a  doubt,  but  that  the  "leaven"  which  this  dev- 
ilish missile  contains,  according  to  an  irreversible  law, 
"  will  leaven  the  whole  lump."  "  We  speak  as  unto  wise 
men;  judge  ye  what  we  say."  And  now.  may  the  Lord, 
have  mercy  upon  us;  and  be  our  buckler,  our  shield,  and 
-our  deliverance  —  and  to  his  Name  be  all  the  glory,  Amen. 


SERMON    VIII. 


PROVERBS    XXVI,    4—5. 

ANSWER  NOT  A.  FOOL  ACCORDING  TO  HIS  'FOLLY,  LEST  THOU 
ALSO  BE  LIKE  HIM.  ANSWER  A  FOOL  ACCORDING  TO  HIS 
FOLLY,  LEST  HE  BE  WISE  IN  HIS  OWN  CONCEIT. 

READER:  —  The  prohibition  contained  in  the  first  verse  of 
our  text,  needs  little  explanation.  It  plainly  forbids  our 
encouraging  or  countenancing,  by  our  words  or  actions,  the 
follies  or  reprehensible  conduct  of  the  fool  in  question,  as 
we  shall  thereby  let  ourselves  down  to  his  mean,  pitiful, 
and  contemptible  level.  The  famous  character  here  refer- 
red to,  is  always  supposed,  of  course,  to  possess  an  item 
or  so,  of  common  sense;  that  he  is,  in  a  measure,  however 
small,  capable  of  acting  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  en- 
lightened reason  ;  or  the  injunction  itself,  would  be  with- 
out foundation.  In  our  second  verse,  we  are  enjoined  by 
the  Highest  Authority,  in  one  way  or  another,  when  we 
witness  the  improprieties  and  follies  of  fools,  to  administer 
salutary  and  effectual  rebuke  —  making  the  fool  or  fools, 
conscious  and  ashamed  of  their  conduct — showing  them, 
in  the  most  pointed  manner,  that  they  deserve  the  appella- 
tion and  condemnation  of  "Bible  fools." 

We  have  just  said,  such  rebuke  is  to  be  administered  in 
one  way  or  another.     The  Preacher  has  left  this  point,  the 
modus  operand^  to  the  discretion  and  choice  of  the  Chris- 
13 


194          "T  KINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,' 

OR    EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

tian  teacher,  whose  duty  it  becomes  to  administer  rebuke 
to  such  fools.  He  may  adopt  a  solemn,  plain-speeched 
manner^;  or,  if  the  subject  or  subjects  of  rebuke,  have  a 
due  degree  of  intelligence,  he  may  adopt  the  style  of  satire, 
and  the  most  caustic  irony.  Either  of  these  modes  is  most 
clearly  evangelical. 

These  points,  then,  in  relation  to  the  manner  of  our  treat- 
ment of  fools,  being  settled  and  made  plain  to  the  under- 
standing of  any  wayfaring  man,  woman  or  child,  a  mo- 
ment's reflection  suggests  to  us  the  idea,  that  we  should 
here  avail  ourselves  of  another  declaration  of  the  preacher, 
while  contemplating  the  exciting  and  ludicrous,  yet  humili- 
ating subject  of  the  "folly  of  fools,"  which,  evidently  was 
designed  to  go  always  in  company  with  our  text,  "  To 
everything  there  is  a  season,  and  a  time  for  every  purpose 
under  the  heaven.  A  time  to  laugh." 

Now,  it  must  be  universally  admitted,  that  in  the  illus- 
tration of  these  texts,  we  are  not  necessarily  compelled  to 
be  highly  theological,  in  the  technical  sense ;  for  all  read- 
ers are  aware,  that  the  celestial  steamboats  and  railroads 
of  our  day,  have  brought  us  learned  and  ponderous  scien- 
tific journals  in  theology,  almost  as  luminous  and  valuable 
as  infidelity  or  loco  focoism  itself  has  ever  produced  !  Nor 
yet  do  the  texts  compel  us  to  be  exclusively  religious;  and 
why  should  we?  We  have  religious  magazines  for  all 
kinds  of  devotion;  and  all  kinds  of  practice;  and  of  all 
sizes ;  and  multiplied  beyond  arithmetical  computation  — 
for  the  family  —  for  the  mother — for  the  child  —  for  the 
youth  —  and,  perhaps,  for  uncles  and  aunts;  though  we  dare 
not  affirm  here,  that  there  is  any  yet  for  fathers.  And  we 
have  but  just  now  received  a  Bible  for  the  "  cottage."  Nor, 
again,  do  our  texts  oblige  us  to  occupy  your  time,  reader, 
with  any  one  class  of  subjects  to  be  laughed  at;  there  are 
already  at  your  doors,  if  not  in  your  possession,  sermons 
enough,  and  fcmany  of  them  just  good  enough,  fresh  from 
the  new  school  mint,  which  all,  but  downright  religious 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"           195 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

loco  focos,  consider  as  fit  only  for  derision;  yet,  you  will, 
we  humbly  trust,  arrive  at  a  tolerably  correct  understanding 
and  comprehension  of  our  texts,  should  we  not  give  our 
opinion  concerning  either  of  those  very  lacrymose  and  me- 
dicinal productions.  Our  sermon  will  be  simply  a  sermon 
exactly  adapted  to  produce  oral  illustrations;  as  we  shall 
state  facts  as  they  appear  on  record,  concerning  some  of 
our  interests  and  affections,  and  habits  and  passions;  with 
but  very  little  connected  with  our  duties  as  rational  men, 
or  as  being  under  the  least  obligation,  in  these  times,  to 
recognize  any  authority,  whatever,  as  the  true  standard  of 
either  evangelical  faith  or  practice.  We  shall,  however, 
give  a  transient  glance  at  Politics,  Ethics,  Medicine,  Litera- 
ture, Religion,  and  the  diverse  humbugs  of  the  times,  which 
one  finds  in  company  with  them,  in  every  city  and  town 
in  Christendom.  We  should,  indeed,  be  inexcusable,  did 
we  not  do  this;  our  New  Haven  oracle,  and  his  god-father, 
the  great  Dr.  Wind-of-Doctrine — the  semi-compound  of  all 
modernism,  and  summit  of  the  most  stupendous  consistan- 
cy;  being,  in  himself,  independently  of  all  mundane  beings, 
every  religious  sailor's  compass-boxer  —  the  religious  Pan- 
dora of  the  last  thirty  years;  who  declared,  recently,  that, 
sink  or  swim,  survive  or  perish,  he  should  return  from  New 
England,  and  continue  to  fight  the  devil  in  the  west.  Yes, 
these  sublime  authorities  now  boast,  and  have  published 
their  boast,  that,  within  the  last  twenty  years;  (we  use  thier 
words)  —  "  The  intellectual  character  of  man  is  changed;  " 
and  they  give  this  gravely;  and  plead  the  fact,  as  a  reason 
why  we  should  all  teach  and  believe  according  to  their 
wind-of-doctrine  system.  And  here  we  come  full-butt  at  the 
secret  of  our  texts,  viz :  the  father  of  lying  oracles,  has 
induced  even  these  educated  Puritans,  finally  to  confess  the 
truth,  that  they  themselves  are  fools;  without  having  un- 
dergone, to  our  knowledge,  any  of  the  processes  of  tran- 
substantiation,  or  transcendentalism  in  the  popular  phreno- 
logical and  physiological  use  of  those  terms ;  and  that  all 


196          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

around  them  are  fools;  and  such  are  the  very  characters 
to  whom  Solomon  refers  in  our  text,  as  being  in  their  very 
natures,  ridiculous;  and.  therefore,  always  furnishing  us 
with  matter  worthy  of  laughter.  You  see,  then,  Christian 
reader,  that  we  should  he  inexcusable,  were  we  to  attempt 
to  illustrate  our  texts,  by  giving  any  view  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical or  civil  history  of  the  "Peaquods,  or  Mohegans,  or 
witches,"  even  of  New  England;  we  could  not  do  justice 
to  the  lives  and  characters  of  their  distinguished  individu- 
als. W.e  must  also  omit  various  and  curious  topics,  in  their 
jurisprudence  and  legislation  ;  each  of  which  might  furnish 
matter,  here  and  there,  and  a  time,  too,  to  laugh ;  but  these 
topics,  we  candidly  admit,*  should  be  discussed  indepen- 
dently of  polemics  and  party  politics;  and  with  reference, 
indeed,  to  established  principles  of  economical  and  politi- 
cal science,  after  the  style  of  our  Washingtons,  our  Frank- 
lins, our  Adamses,  our  Edwardses,  and  our  Dwights, 
and  our  Masons,  whose  writings  we  consider  worthy  letters 
ofgold  in  plates  of  silver,  as  long  as  good  sense,  literature, 
good  morals,  and  orthodox  religion  exist  among  men. 

Pardon  this  digression.     We  know  our  text  says,  we 
have  "  a  time  to  laugh,"-'  and,  surely,  this   is  a  proper  oc- 
casion to  indulge  in  such  a  sensation.     Why,  we  were  fur- 
nished, no  longer  ago  than  last  winter,  by  Mr.  Secretary 
Woodbury,  in  the  Odeon,  at  Boston,  according  to  his  re- 
porters, with  irrefragable  proof,  that,  "society  is  to  make 
progress  in  improvement,  hereafter,  as  it  has  done  hereto- 
fore ! "     The  position  was  advanced  by  him,  and  established 
beyond  the  possibility  of  refutation,  that  the  "arts  and 
sciences,  [and  we  suppose,  sublime  humbugs  of  professed 
improvements]  will  continue  to  advance,   so  long  as  the 
world  shall  stand  !"     He  made  it  clear  as  light  itself,  that, 
"everything  here,  was  once  in  its  infancy;  that  the  world 
itself,  is  only  a  cradle;"  and,  as  illustrative  of  these  sage 
positions,  his  audience  were  called  upon  to  "see  acorns 
spring  into  oaks,  and  eggs  into  eagles !  "     Yes,  he  furnished 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  197 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

the  extraordinary  intelligence,  that  "  the  compass,  which 
now  directs  the  noble  ship,  [except,  you  know,  reader,  she 
stay  at  home,  or  be  lost,]  over  every  sea,  was  once  a  piece 
of  merely  magnetised  steel,  stuck  into  a  straw,  and  sup- 
ported in  a  bowl  of  water  !  "  And  he,  at  that  time,  also 
furnished  the  intelligence,  that  the  "art  of  painting,  had 
its  beginning  upon  some  uncouth  drawings  upon  a  village 
sign ;  [somewhere,  we  suppose,  in  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire;] "that  sculpture  once  aspired  no  higher  than  to 
chisel  out  a  weathercock,  to  be  placed  on  a  pole,  to  show 
the  variableness  of  the  wind !  "  Verily,  that  hearer  of  his, 
on  that  occasion,  who  did  not  improve  such  an  opportunity 
to  laugh,  must  have  been  a  fool  indeed. 

But  we  have  not  yet  related  half  the  news  of  that  semi- 
comico-lachrymose  scene.  "The  Secretary  stood  alone," 
"in  shape  and  gesture  proudly  eminent;"  and  infbrmed 
his  audience,  that  "empires  have  fallen;"  but  very  hap- 
pily for  those  born  since  their  fall,  they  have  arisen  again, 
and  actually  advanced  in  improvement;  that  "while  one 
horse  has  died,  another  more  beautiful  one  had  arisen ; 
and  though  one  sheep  had  gone  away,  another  had  come, 
with  a  finer  fleece  upon  her  back."  And  just  so  it  is,  said 
the  Secretary,  (according  to  his  faithful  reporters.)  there  is 
a  gradual  improvement  in  everything!  Particularly,  dur- 
ing the  last  eighteen  hundred  years,  the  Gospel  had  been  a 
powerful  instrument  in  civilizing  the  world.  And  printing, 
O  !  yes,  indeed,  •'  printing  had  been  a  great  means  in  dif- 
fusing light  through  the  gloomy  mass  of  mind  !  "  * 

Reader,   were  not  these  extraordinary  items  of  intelli- 

*"  Yes,"  replied  a  gentleman,  catching  the  spirit  of  his  "learned"  quon- 
dam friend,  the  Secretary,  (that,  however,  was  before  he  sold  himself  for  a 
passa:rr>  in  the  car  of  Jackson,)  "Yes,  sir,  you  are  right,  as  to  the  wonder- 
ful influence  of  the  press;  particularly  in  Boston,  in  pouring  light  into  the 
most  gloomy  '  mass  of  mind.'  Such  has  been  its  influence  here,  that  all 
the  animals  in  the  Boston  menagerie,  under  the  tuition  of  that  old  'type- 
setting goat'  —  Buckingham,  have,  within  the  last  twenty-five  years,  be- 
come scholars;  many  have  become  editors!  !  !  And  we  have  heard  it  said, 
'that  '  thrfe  mules'  now  edit  a  large  weekly  paper,  very  satisfactorily  to 
their  readers !  You  cannot  praise  the  Buckingham  menagerie  too  highly." 


J98  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

gence?  And,  is  it  not  a  most,mysterious  matter,  how  our 
Secretary  obtained  such  a  knowledge  of  them?  And  does 
he  not  richly  merit  the  falling  mantle  of  his  master.  Jack" 
son,  for  giving  so  vast  a  fund  of  instruction,  in  only  one 
evening,  to  the  ignorant  and  illiterate  citizens  of  Boston? 

Again:  who  can  repress  laughter,  on  receiving  the  intelli- 
gence, that  the  facilities  for  acquiring  knowledge,  are  soon 
to  be  ineffably  increased,  by  a  new  celestial  rail  road? 
This  project  is  said  to  have  been  originated  (and  to  be  now 
almost  completed,)  by  characters  famed  for  maxims  of  wis- 
dom, and  the  most  sublimated  virtues  !  Men  of  as  profound 
spirituality,  and  as  lofty  aims,  as  the  sagest  philosophers  of 
old.  These  high  encomiums  will  appear  to  every  reader, 
perfectly  sustained,  when  we  have  given  their  names,  as 
furnished  by  the  Mail.  We  have  already  named  the  great 
Dr.  Wind-of-Doctrine,  one  of  the  sponsors  to  the  New  Ha- 
ven oracle,  and  who  is  said  to  be  a  leading  character  in  the 
"celestial  rail  road  company;"  and  with  him,  and  the 
New  Haven  oracle,  are'  said  to  be  associated  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Shallow-deep,  the  perfectionist  of  the  three  gender  '•  Ober- 
lin  Institute,"  Ohio;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stumble-at-Truth,  the 
famous  "  note-taker"  in  Philadelphia  ;  that  fine  old  char- 
acter, the  Rev.  Mr.  This-to-Day,  who  expects  shortly  to 
resign  his  pulpit  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  That-to-Morrow ;  together 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bewilderment,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clog- 
the-Spirit;  yes,  all  these,  it  is  veritably  said,  are  engaged 
in  the  work  of  manufacturing  steam  for  the  car! !  !  And 
that  Christian  who  hears  such  news,  will,  we  think,  cer- 
tainly be  at  no  loss  as  to  the  meaning  of  Solomon,  in  our 
text,  "There  is  a  time  to  laugh."  But,  merriment  apart. 
Let  no  man  charge  us  with  either  a  want  of  Christian  in- 
genuousness, or  evangelical,  Puritanic  Orthodoxy. 

To  prove  to  our  readers,  that  our  ingenuousness,  and  be- 
nevolence, (where  not  met  by  the  frost  of  heresy,)  have  no 
winter  in  them,  we  will  conclude  our  sermon,  on  this  sub- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          199 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

ject  of  "the  folly  of  fools,"  with  a  very  different  air;  and 
which  we  some  yeajs  since  called,  the  "  Vindication  of 
fools." 

Well,  the  folly  of  "fools"  is  the  subject  of  our  sermon. 
We  cannot  tell,  what  you,  reader,  and  most  men  think  of 
it;  but 

"For  our  single  self,  we'd  as  lief  not  be, 
As  live  to  be  in  awe  of  such  a  thing" 

as  folly.  We  very  well  remember,  that  our  long  since 
sainted  parents  often  compelled  us,  in  early  life,  to  read 
the  "Proverbs  of  Solomon;"  andvve  greatly  wondered, 
why  so  good,  and  wise  and  great  a  man,  as  he  was, 
should  seem  so  inimical  towards  "fools;"  as  in  our 
view,  at  that  period  of  life,  there  could  not  be  found 
more  than  one,  or  two,  in  the  world.  And  thcuigh  ad- 
vancing life,  experience  and  observation,  have  since  cor- 
rected our  mistake,  as  to  the  number,  of  this  fraternity; 
yet,  to  this  hour,  we  are  often  compelled  to  ask  why  it  is, 
that  not  only  Solomon,  but  all  generations,  have  been  so 
implacably  set  against  "fools;  "  as  it  is  as  capable  of  dem- 
onstration, as  any  problem  in  mathematics,  that  "fools" 
are  the  great  staple  of  the  human  family;  and  after  all,  are 
the  works  of  God.  as  well  as  wiser  men.  Indeed,  of  the 
mass  of  mankind,  the  larger  portion,  are  "  fools  "  from  head 
to  foot — and  the  rest,  differ  only,  in  having  their  folly  va- 
riegated, by  an  occasional  vein  of  wisdom ;  hardly  more 
than  sufficient,  however,  for  preventing  themselves  from 
burning  their  fingers !  And  even  this,  is  often  of  that  bas- 
tard sort,  which  is  more  appropriately  designated  by  the 
name  of  cunning.  Even  the  wisest,  of  mankind,  pay  their 
due  tribute  at  the  shrine  of  folly,  exhibit  occasional  speci- 
mens of  it,  which  of  course,  set  the  duller  souls  staring,  by 
its  exaggerated  absurdity  !  Happy,  indeed,  is  it  for  them, 
that  this  is  the  case:  for,  without  some  such  protecting  in- 
firmity, they  would  be  put  out  of  all  relation  to  their  fellow 
creatures.  Such  faultless  beings,  would  be  as  much  dis- 


200          "THINGfS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OB   EVANGELICAL   BONOS. 

placed  in  the  degenerated  society  of  our  times,  as  a  hare  in 
a  kennel  of  hounds,  or  a  sheep  in  a  den  of  wolves. 

Folly,  ever  since  the  "Fall,"  is  the  rule  of  Nature;  and 
wisdom,  but  an  exception;  and  to  complain  of  it,  is  to  com- 
plain that  you,  yourself,  are  a  man.  The  outcry  against 
folly,  is  a  mere  rebellion  against  Heaven.  It  shows  an 
utter  want  of  self  knowledge,  or,  a  contemptible  affectation. 

In  one  word,  it  is  no  better  than  sheer  cant,  and  ought, 
like  all  other  cant,  to  be  put  down  by  general  denunciation. 
Providence  makes  nothing  in  vain,  and  the  bare  fact  of  this 
multiplicity  of  "fools,"  should  lead,  by  the  shortest  route, 
to  a  conviction,  that  they  arer  a  very  useful,  and  therefore 
a  very  respectable  class  of  personages.  Those  persons 
however,  who  are  duly  versed  in  the  philosophy  of  human 
life,  will.fmd  if  not  difficult  to  acknowledge,  (sub  rosa)  be 
it  understood,  that  the  whole  scheme  or  system  of  human 
society  and  intercourse,  is  built,  on  the  folly  of  mankind; 
and  that  two  grains  more  of  common  sense,  in  the  compo- 
sition of  the  human  animal,  would  beyond  all  question 
have  ruined  the  entire  concern  ;  that  is,  would  have  render- 
ed the  physical  organization  of  the  species,  unfitted  for  the 
world  it  inhabits.  The  whole  state  and  condition  of  civil- 
ized society,  at  least,  is  built  upon  the  single  relation  of 
folly  to  dupery;  and  unless  we  were  mad  enough  to  desire, 
with  Jean  Jacques,  a  return  to  simple  savagery;  (which 
indeed  is  evinced  by  a  great  mass  of  the  whisker  and  mus- 
tachio  raisers  among  us,)  we  must  look  with  complacency 
upon  this  "  sine  qua  non"  of  the  social  system.  The  ex- 
clusive end  of  all  government,  is  but  a  sort  of  game-law, 
to  keep  "fools"  (under  pretext. of  protecting  them  from  the 
inroads  of  unlicensed  knaves)  in  a  reserve  for  the  butus,  of 
the  regular  sportsmen.  A  community  of  sheer  rogues, 
would  destroy  itself;  like  two  millstones  moving  without 
the  intervention  of  a  material  to  be  ground.  A  nation  of 
"  fools,"  would  be  devoured  by  their  neighbors;  but  a  so- 
ciety, compounded  of  the  two,  with  a  proper  intermixture 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  201 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

of  those  who  are,  in  their  own  persons,  an  happy  mixture 
of  both,  is  admirably  qualified  for  the  maintenance  of  so- 
cial order,  and  the  relations  of  civilized  life.  Folly  is  there- 
fore, the  ultimate  cause  of  all  that  is  brilliant  and  elevated 
in  social  polity,  in  the  present  system.  Without  "  fools," 
we  should  have  neither  Presidents,  nor  successful  dema- 
gogues, nor  monarchs,  nor  Popes,  nor  cardinals,  nor  bish- 
ops, nor  priests  of  the  Oracle,  nor  judges,  nor  generals,  nor 
even  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Were  there  no  fools,  we  should 
have  no  mayors,  aldermen,  nor  constables,  nor  police  mag- 
istrates; or  at  least,  if  any  such  things  existed,  they  would 
be  constituted  so  differently  from  those,  which  at  present 
bear  the  name,  that  they  would  no  longer  be  worthy  of  it. 
They  would  be  completely  stripped  of  all  the  sublime  and 
beautiful  in  which  they  now  bask  and  rejoice;  and  many  a 
dwelling  house  and  drawing  room,  and  the  polished  pillars 
in  many  of  our  citadels,  would  be  divested  of  the  better  p'art  of 
their  gilding  and  ornaments.  There  would  be  no  sinecures, 
and  pensions,  no  revolutionary  grants,  no  state  governers; 
nothing,  in  short,  to  distinguish  men  from  the  beasts  of  the 
field.  This,  therefore,  is  the  very  touchstone  of  political 
science;  and  yet  men  goon,  abusing  the  blockheads  and 
dolts,  as  if  they  were  a  superfluity  in  nature,  and  a  let,  and 
an  hindrance  to  the  public  at  large.  But  the  matter  does 
not  stop  here  —  banish  folly  from  the  intellectual  sphere, 
and  the  greater  part  of  even  the  honester  callings  must 
cease,  and  be  abandoned.  The  world  would  become  little 
better  than  one  vast  tub  of  Diogenes;  and  its  population 
would  be  as  unaccommodated  and  as  idle  as  the  Hindoos 
or  Hottentots. 

If  the  simple  desire  of  fencing  out  the  elements  alone, 
presided  over  the  choice  of  our  habiliments,  and  nothing 
were  granted  to  the  folly  of  ostentation,  what  would  be- 
come of  ninety-nine  in  the  hundred,  of  your  tailors;  ah! 
and  your  enchanting  milliners;  and  your  mantaumakers? 
The  folly  of  vanity  alone,  renders  these  trades  lucrative 


\ 

202          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

employments  to  many  worthy  citizens;  and  without  vani- 
ty and  folly,  the  most  worthy  among  them,  would  soon 
pine  in  the  same  hopeless  obscurity  as  the  vilest  country 
botch.  How  little  of  the  twenty  yards  of  silk,  which  your 
wife,  or  daughter,  assures  you  are  indispensable  for  the 
framing  of  a  decent  evening  levee-dress,  in  Washington, 
belong  to  wisdom  and  propriety?  and  how  much  is  dedi- 
cated under  the  names  of  gigots  volans  a  dant,  ruches,  and 
furbelos,  to  the  service  of  folly  ?  How  little  of  the  stupen- 
dous and  complicated  piece  of  architecture,  called  a  bon- 
net, or  ladies  hat,  depends  upon  the  capacity  of  the  head 
that  bears  it?  The  helmet  of  the  castle  of  Otranto,  is  but 
a  type  of  its  marvellous  disproportion  !  Like  the  interior 
of  St.  Peter's  at  Rome,  the  first  aspect  of  it  overwhelms  the 
spectator  with  a  deep  sense  of  awe;  and  impresses  him 
with  as  full  a  conviction  as  death  itself,  of  the  microcosm 
of  man ! 

With  respect  to  another  great  essential  of  life  —  the  eat- 
ing and  drinking,  folly  is  no  less  predominant.  Not  that 
we  are  insensible  to  the  advantages  of  good  cookery,  or 
disposed  to  sit  down  the  labors  of  our  best  hosts,  as  among 
the  vanities  of  life.  On  the  contrary,  we  believe,  most 
stubbornly,  in  the  truth  of  that  "proverb"  which  teaches, 
that  when  God  gave  to  man  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the  three  elements,  to  make  out  a  dinner,  the 
devil,  with  a  corresponding  malice,  dragged  into  upper  air 
that  quintessential  spoil-sport,  a  bad  cook.  "  He  who  does 
not  mind  his  belly,"  (said  DR.  JOHNSON,  the  Magnus  Apol- 
lo," of  all  Church  and  State,  maxim-mongers,  and  moral- 
ists,) "will  hardly  mind  any  thing" — and  he  once  replied 
,  to  a  frivolous  Lady,  who  teased  him  with  the  question  — 
"  Dr.  will  you  not  take  a  piece  of  this  or  that,  or  any  other 
kind  of  pie?"  "Yes,  madam,  any  kind  of  pie  but  a  Mag- 
pie." To  be  indifferent  to  what  one  eats,  is  not  to  know 
right  from  wrong;  and  is  one  of  the  few  species  of  folly 
which  is  bad  in  itself;  and  deserving  of  universal  vituper- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          203 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

ation.     We  speak  not  here  of  the  essentials  of  a  good  table, 
but  of  those  numerous  inventions  for  pleasing  the  eye,  at 
the   expense  of   the   stomach  —  those   numerous   articles 
which  feed  nothing  but  the  pride  and  vanity  of  (he  osten- 
tatious owner.     Of  the  hundreds  of  articles,  which  go  to 
the  set-out  of  a  formal  dinner-table  among  the  nobility,  in 
Baltimore   or  Washington,   and  which  occupy  the  entire 
morning  of  a  butler,  and  a  pantry-boy  to  display;  how 
few,   how  very  few,  administer  to  the  real  comfort  of  the 
meal  ?     Yet,   were  these  not  in  demand,   an  host  of  indus- 
trious persons  would  be  instantly  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment.    In  another  view,  it  would  be  a  sore  day  for  the  to- 
baconist,  if  mankind  were  given  only  to  the  use  of  a  cigar, 
a  pinch  of  black-guard,  or  a  quid  of  his  pig-tail.     Drive 
out  folly  with  her  ruinous  extravagances,  and  many  a  poor 
tradesman  would  starve.     Again,  the  kindred  shop  of  the 
perfumer,  affords  another  illustration  of  the  same  vanity. 
It  is  not  the  necessaries,  the  Windsor  soap  and  the  tooth 
brush,  that  enables  the  shop  keeper  to  drive  his  coach  and 
to  sport  his  villa.     These  displays  he  owes  to  the  essences, 
and  the  cosmetics  which  are  dedicated  to  the  service  of  • 
folly;  together  with  the  gold  and  silver  necessaries,  exter- 
nally about  his  lions,  that  are  any  thing  but  necessary,  to 
the  bean,  who  cannot  travel  a  step  without  them.     But  we 
may  be  called  ungenerous,  if  we  push  this  matter  further. 
That  reader,  must  be  far  beyond  the  average  folly,  which 
is  the  subject  of  our  sermon,  who  cannot  draw  a  general 
conclusion,  from  the  foregoing  particulars,  and  satisfy  him- 
self, that  COMMERCE  itself,  would  cease,   with  the  existence 
of  fools;  and  consequently,  that  they  are  of  the  last  neces- 
sity, in  that  complex,  which  is  the  pride,  boast,  and  pros- 
perity of  the  summary  of  all  perfection  —  the  model  of  all 
civilization,  the  type  of  all  morality,  in  the  opinion  of  that 
profligate  wretch,  Dickens;  Old  England,  or  the  sect   of 
Shaking  Quakers!     But  the  utility  of  fools,  after  all  that 
we  have  said,  remains  yet  to  be  described.     To  the  various 


204          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

departments  of  literature,  science,  medicine  and  religion, 
we  must  resort,  for  the  mystery  of  mysteries,' or  the  super- 
latives of  rniman  folly.  We,  however  know,  and  so  do  all 
the  intelligent  booksellors  of  the  world,  that  "fools"  are 
the  best  and  principal  customers  of  the  trade.  Without 
11  fools"  there  would  be  no  fashionable  watering  places; 
there  would  be  no  circulating  libraries  worth  mentioning; 
and  without  circulating  libraries  there  would  be  no  fash- 
ionable novels,  no  light  poetry,  no  squibs,  no  autobiogra- 
phy—  and  tell  it  not  in  Gotham,  no  reviews  and  maga- 
zines! And  without  all  these,  there  would  be  no  authors 
nor  booksellers!  most  miserable  times,  indeed!  Soberly, 
the  handsomest  and  the  best  books,  in  the  booksellers  sense 
of  the  word,  are  got  up,  expressly  for  the  "  fools  !  "  With- 
out the  aid  of  "fools,"  both  as  purchasers  and  as  authors 
too,  there  would  be  no  embroiling  of  the  sciences  —  no  fac- 
tions in  literature  —  no  party  politics  —  no  angry  polemics 
— no  cantism:  —  yes,  no  animal  magnetism  —  no  phrenol- 
ogical sputterers  —  and  no  eternal  disputes  about  the  cur- 
rency—  and  our  paper  makers  might  stop  their  mill-wheels 
—  and  all  our  press-men,  might  immediately  place  them- 
selves under  the  command  of  some  Lieutenant,  who  is  ex- 
pected shortly  to  be  drumming  up  recruits,  to  go  and  die 
most  gloriously  with  him,  either  in  Texas,  or  Mexico. 

Without  foolish  authors,  criticism  would  starve  —  there 
would  be  nothing  to  sustain  it  — and  we  should  only  have, 
at  most,  a  blue  or  yellow  octavo  called  for,  once,  or  so  in  a 
century.  And,  another,  more  interesting  and  affecting 
consideration  still  —  were  there  no  "fools,"  the  majority  of 
our  journalists  would  be  reduced  to  perfect  misery,  if  not  to 
total  ruin.  There  would  be  no  leading  articles !  viz  :  no 
exciting  slanders  —  no  long  columns,  concerning  captivating 
swindlers,  and  interesting  cut-throats!  No  slang  descrip- 
tions of  the  beastly  chivalry  of  horse-racing  ! !  Were  there 
no  "fools,"  we  should  have  to  forego  the  exquisite  pleasure 
of  perusing  canting  narratives  of  many  marvelous  fetes ; 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  205 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

and  most  enwrapturing  gossipings,  and  pratings  of  the 
whereabouts  of  our  neighbors  infants,  and  wives  !  !  !  Were 
there  no  fools,  that  sickly  "MARLBORO  HOTEL,"  in 
Boston,  with  all  its  charms,  would  never  have  been  sustain- 
ed but  one  day,  though  under  the  superintendence  of  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  whiskered  pinks  of  the  "  Order  of  the 
Garter."  It  will  not  be  satisfied,  to  provide  a  public  din- 
ner, for  fifty,  or  a  hundred  intelligent  persons,  unless  it  be 
allowed  to  prate  its  "  great- great- grand- father's  heterodox 
grace"  over  the  articles,  which  it  will  then  proceed  to  serve 
out  to  the  guests,  in  its  apron  and  shirt-sleeves!!  !  Were 
there  no  fools,  we  should  have  none  of  the  daily  descriptions 
of  boating  parties  —  of  rail  car  parties — nor  of  poney  par- 
ties !  Yes,  indeed,  were  there  no  fools,  we  never  should 
have  heard  of  any  such  starched,  significant  things,  as 
"lords  and  ladies  in  waiting,"  and  of  "ladies  of  the  do- 
mestic circle ! " 

But  here  let  us  take  a  view  of  another  department,  which 
illustrates,  most  strikingly,  the  importance  of  the  existence 
of  fools.  Without  such  a  class  of  personages,  we  should 
have  none  of  the  myriads  of  advertisements  which  adorn 
our  journals ;  there  would  be  no  poetic  advocacy  of  lot- 
tery tickets,  (legalized  gambling)  nor  of  that  charming 
monomania,  tee-total  abstinence,"  which,  however,  Paul, 
we  here  recollect,  says,  "it has  indeed  a  show  of  wisdom 
in  will-worship,  and  humility,  and  neglecting  of  the 
body;"  but  is  mere  fleshly  wisdom,  and  a  disgrace  to  its 
adherents,  as  his  language  should  be  read  and  understood 
by  all.  Were  there  no  fools  and  no  advertisements,  we 
never  should  have  read  any  phrenological,  nor  even  surgi- 
cal moralizing  about  the  morning  of  life,  and  the  delusions 
of  passions;  and  were  there  no  fools,  there  never  would 
have  been  any  such  extatic  conjunctions  as  the  marriages 
of  young  gentlemen,  with  ladies  old  enough  to  have  been 
their  mothers ! 

Again:  were  there  no  advertisements,  nor  fools,  we  should 


206  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

have  had  no  notices  of  regular  tradesmen  leaving  off  busi- 
ness, nor  of  the  hows  and  manner  in  which  we  can  save 
full  fifty  per  cent,  in  the  purchase  of  calicos !     This  mul- 
tiplicity of  advertisements,  in  our  "dailies,"  proves  to  dem- 
onstration, that  Americans  have  become  as  great  fools,  un- 
der the  sun,  as  even  the  English  have  been  called ;  but 
still,  we  ask,  are  we  not,   according  to  the  estimate  of  all 
our  wise  heretics  and  demagogues,  the  most  prosperous  of 
people?     What   farther  proof  can  be  required,    to  show 
the  superlative  advantages  of  being  a  noble  generation  of 
fools?     But,  farther:  if  we  look  abroad,  into  foreign  coun- 
tries, we  shall  perceive  that  an  adequate  supply  of  fools,  is 
highly  important,  in  a  political  sense,  as  furnishing  the  raw 
materials  for  armies,  on  such  emergences  as  often  occur. 
In  England,  and  particularly  throughout  Europe,  fools  are 
necessary,  to  constitute  their  standing  armies,  which  often 
seem  to  be  urgently  necessary  to  society,  as  the  first  ele- 
ments of  their  systems  of  government.     Poverty  and  gin, 
heretofore,  we  know,  have  gone  far,  in  raising  the  necessary 
complement  of  common  soldiers,  to  be  shot  at,  or  knocked 
on  the  head,  for  the  honor  of  monarchy  ;  for  the  Princely 
stipend  of  six  pence  per  diem;  yet,  we  think  it  would  have 
been  difficult  in  such  cases,  to  have  persuaded  wise  men, 
of  comfortable  fortunes,  to  have  thus  forgone  their  ease, 
and  independence,  and  to  risk  their  capital,  in  commissions, 
and  often  changed  accoutrements,  for  the  mere  pleasure  of 
strutting  about  in  laced  clothes,   and  fur  caps,   like  our 
sucking  lieutenants  and  midshipmen!     Indeed,  it  is  clear, 
that  in  those  countries,  in  such  emergencies,  nothing  could 
have  been  accomplished,  without  the  direct  agency  of  fools. 
But  leaving  politics,  for  the  while  —  we  here  turn  and 
come  nearer  home,  for  illustration  of  our  important  sub- 
ject.    The  multiplicity  of  "fools,"   is  the  joyful  occasion, 
as  even  every  charletan  knows,  of  the  present  flourishing 
condition  of  the  practice  of  Physic,  in  all  civilized  coun- 
tries; and  in  no  place,  state,  or  province,  is  it  more  so,  than 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          207 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

in  this  state  of  Maryland ;  and  in  no  city  more  than  in  this 
of  Baltimore.  (A  large  portion  of  this  sermon,  reader; 
was  gotton  up,  and  first  preached,  several  years  since,  at 
the  request  of  the  learned  and  celebrated,  late  Dr.  Nathan- 
iel Potter ;  one  of  the  founders,  and  for  a  great  part  of  the 
time,  a  "  Dean,  and  Professor  of  Theory,  and  Practice  of 
Medicine,  in  the  University  of  Maryland."  Yes,  to  the 
folly  of  mankind,  (and  we  here  speak  in  the  spirit  of  pure 
philanthropy  and  philosophy,  as  we  were  in  early  life,  made 
familiar  with  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medic'ine,  in  its 
various  aspects,  and  operations)  medicine  is  indebted  at 
once,  for  more  than  half  the  diseases  on  which  it  operates ; 
and  for  all  the  fame  of  its  principal  remedies.  We  look, 
upon  a  well  stored  apothecary's  shop,  as  a  standing  monu- 
ment of  human  credulity  and  imbecility ;  yes,  the  bl  ue  and 
pink  bottle,  in  its  illuminated  window ;  are  with  us  like  a 
pharos,  shining  over  the  sunken  rocks  of  the  owner's  shal- 
low qualifications  !  Among  the  rich  variety  of  its  accu- 
mulated disgusts,  there  are  at  most,  not  generally  more 
than  some  half  dozen  drugs,  which  skill,  peradventure,  can 
turn  to  valuable  account;  the  rest,  are  never  better,  than 
the  innoccuous instruments  of  "fool"  catching.  Too  often, 
they  are  either  positively,  or  negatively  poisonous ;  at  least, 
when  in  the  hands  of  that  Thomsonian,  and  Legislative 
empiricism,  which  of  late,  has  striven  to  set  regular  Col- 
leges, Professors,  and  learned  corporations  at  defiance  !  * 
We  do  not  intend  to  state,  however,  that  the  worst  quacks, 
are  always  to  be  found,  among  men  of  no  regular  diplo- 
mas ;  or  among  those,  who  disguise  the  implements,  and 
ingredients  of  their  trade,  beneath  the  mystery  of  some 
stamp.  No  two  things,  can  be  more  distinct,  than  the  tradet 
and  the  worthy  profession  of  Physic.  The  qualified  Pro- 


*  Even  the  "loco  foco  Legislature"  of  Maryland,  expelled  the  founders 
and  approved  Professors,  from  their  University,  and  plrced  in  their  vacated 
chairs,  a  set  of  young,  green,  mere  mutton  heads,  when  compared  with  the 
rightful  occupants,  and  thus  ruined  the  only  ornament  of  the  kind,  they 
had  in  the  State. 


208          "THINGS     NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

fessor,  administers,  correctly,  to  the  maladies  of  his  patient ' 
but  the  trader,  or  charletan,  to  his  passions.  The  Professor 
acquires  his  competent  skill,  by  anatomizing  the  dead; 
while  the  trader,  or  charletan,  thrives  only,  by  cutting 
down  all  the  living  he  can  allure  within  his  power!  If  to 
flattery  and  to  slander  he  adds  a  delusive  dash  of  hypocri- 
sy, and  can  prove  his  competence  in  medicine,  by  his  skill 
in  "culling  simples;  "  we  mean,  repeating  scraps  in  The- 
ology, his  fortunes  are  made.  Yes,  believe  it,  the  "  fools," 
the  million,  fall  to  his  share;  and  of  course  he  thrives  — 
while  our  learned  Professor,  in  the  possession  only  of  the 
patronage  of  wise  men,  who  generally  need  but  little  medi- 
cal aid,  starves  by  inches,  upon  their  limited  custom ;  and 
sometimes  dies,  in  disappointment.  Thus  much,  we  have 
honestly  preached,  on  the  importance  of  "fools,"  in  the 
successful  practice  of  medicine. 

But,  let  us  look  at  them  a  moment,  in  relation  to  law. 
But,  reader,  you  will  respond,  "why  mention  law?  Its 
expenses,  surely,  are  too  enormous,  for  ordinary  indul- 
gence." We  know  it;  yet,  occasionally,  cases  do  arise,  in 
which  a  wise  man,  (whom  oppression,  beyond  a  certain  ex- 
tent, makes  justly  mad,  according  to  Holy  Writ,)  must 
resort  to  it.  But  still,  generally  speaking,  it  is  only  the 
very  greatest  of  fools,  which  rush  into  the  labyrinths  of  the 
law.  And,  indeed,  law,  we  think,  has  become  little  more 
than  another  name  for  gaming;  and  hence,  as  throwing 
dice  is  certainly  the  gayest  mode  of  trusting  to  chance,  this 
may,  ere  long,  supersede  law,  altogether!  Again,  the  utility 
of  fools,  in  a  different  view  from  that  we  have  above  taken 
of  it  in  politics,  is  unbounded.  Without  their  general  in- 
terposition between  the  rogues  that  lead  factions,  the  latter 
would  come  into  such  close  contact,  that  all  questions  in 
dispute,  would  be  settled,  one  way  or  other,  without  any 
delay  ;  and  thus  the  world  at  least,  would  lose  the  amuse- 
ment of  a  protracted  struggle.  And  farther,  without  the 
particular  intervention  of  fools,  to  do  the  dirty  work  of 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          209 

TO    DIVERSE,    NOTABLE    FOOLS    AND    ASSES. 

politics,  and  to  hazzard  measures  of  which  the  most  bare- 
faced villiany  would  be  ashamed,  policy  would  be  cut  off 
from  half  its  best  means  ;  and  from  all  the  applause  which 
often  attends  a  successful  stroke.  We  all  know,  that  this 
class  of  persons  rush  in,  where  wise  men  fear  to  go ;  and 
are,  therefore  especially  formed,  by  nature,  for  fulfilling  the 
honorable  functions  of  a  cats-paw.  Considering  therefore, 
the  boundless  advantages  of  folly,  and  the  corresponding 
bounty  of  Providence,  in  keeping  up  the  stock  of  "fools;" 
it  may  readily  be  pre-supposed,  that  their  condition  is  by 
no  means  without  its  comforts ;  and  the  fact  corresponds 
with  the  presumption.  There  is  no  one  in  life,  so  perfectly 
satisfied,  as  your  thorough  "  fool."  It  is  the  miserable  pre- 
rogative of  reason,  to  bring  us  acquainted  with  the  vast 
variety  of  our  miseries ;  and  with  the  empty  nothingness 
of  the  objects,  on  which  preposterous  humanity  fixes  its 
desires.  The  highest  flight  of  human  wisdom,  is  to  lash 
the  mind  to  a  stoical  patience  of  suffering;  and,  by  bring- 
ing a  conviation  of  the  realities  of  life  —  of  their  necessity 
—  and  of  their  inevitability  to  screw  our  courage  up  to  the 
sticking  place;  and  inspire  us  with  only  a  tolerable  resig- 
nation. The  "fool,"  on  the  contrary,  sees  nothing  of  all 
this. 

And,  said  the  Greek  tragedian,  "Folly  makes  the  sweet- 
est life,  and  of  all  evils,  is  the  least  painful; "  and  Champ- 
fort  justly  remarks,  "that  Nature,  in  pity,  relieves  us  from 
the  load  of  existience,  when  the  passions  cease  to  blind  us 
to  the  evils  by  which  life  is  surrounded."  Who  ever  heard 
of  a  "/ooZ"  committing  suicide?  or  staining  himself  with 
any  of  the  greater  crimes,  which  originate  from  intensity 
of  feeling  ?  The  French,  before  the  revolution,  had  an  ex- 
alted, but  a  false,  idea  of  the  philosophy  of  the  English  ; 
and  that  fact  justified  another  of  their  prejudices  respecting 
the  tendency  of  the  English  to  melancholy.  However, 
good  it  may  be,  to  be  merry  and  wise,  the  union  of  the  two, 
is,  by  no  means  so  easy  to  effect.  The  Quakers,  are  cer- 
14 


. 
210         "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

tainly  noticeable,  for  their  sense  and  practice,  of  a  safe 
taciturnity:  yet,  as  we  have  before  intimated,  no  wise  man 
will  deny,  that  as  a  community,  they  are  the  muzziest 
mortals  in  existense.  Our  man  of  wit,  or  sense,  laughs, 
only  when  he  has  just  cause  —  but  the  "fool"  laughs  at 
every  thing  —  at  any  thing — at  nothing.  Our  English 
ancestors,  whose  wisdom  is  proverbial,  and  is  never  called 
in  question  but  by  Jacobins  and  stark-fool  innovators,  were 
thrown  upon  professional  "fools"  or  jesters,  for  their  merri- 
ment. They  were  too  grave  and  staid  a  race,  to  venture 
upon  a  laugh  of  their  own  raising ;  whereas,  we,  their  de- 
scendants, who  are  too  silly,  as  has  been  abundantly  proved 
by  facts,  to  stir  a  step  with  safety  and  honor,  without  close- 
ly following  them;  yet,  keep  up  the  circulation  of  the 
blood,  by  ceaseless  laughing  at  our  own  jokes,  and  the  ab- 
surdities of  our  neighbors.  It  surely  then,  is  a  most  mer- 
ciful dispensation  of  Providence,  that  multiplies  "fools," 
and  confines  within  the  narrowest  limits,  those  who  must 
either  burst  with  indignation,  at  triumphant  villany,  or  pine 
in  a  state  of  atrophy,  at  the  aspect  of  human  misery !  The 
upholding  of -folly,  is  therefore  in  itself  a  virtue,  as  the  de- 
nouncing it  is  a  treason  against  Nature,  and  a  sedition 
against  the  Legislature  of  Maryland  !  He  who  disapproves 
of  the  edicts  of  the  Legislature  against  the  Regents  Fac- 
ulty vf  the  University  of  Maryland,  of  course  cannot  love 
the  Legislature  —  he  is  therefore  guilty  of  treason  —  and 
he  who  jests  at  the  professed  patriotism  of  Jackson  and 
Tyler  vetoes,  which  have  produced  nought  but  misery ;  or 
who  execrates  the  hypocrisy  of  Jesuitical  professions  of 
honesty,  and  purity,  is  of  course,  on  the  high  road  either  to 
political  proscription,  or  downright  atheism !  To  despise 
the  scores  of  spurious  teachers,  many  of  whom  you  may 
find  in  your  own  city,  utterly  unfit  for  the  business  of 
teaching  in  any  literary  department  —  would  be  an  outrage 
upon  the  feelings  of  the  majority  of  this  community.  To 
do  this,  would  be  as  wicked,  with  your  unconscionable 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          211 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

"  fools,"  as  to  advocate  the  Constitution  in  favor  of  the 
rightful  occupants  of  the  chairs  of  the  University!  To 
laugh  at  the  spuriousness,  and  to  denounce  the  system  of 
New  Divinity-mongers,  is  to  level  yourself  with  the  French 
banditti. 

The  accommodating  spirit  of  folly,  is  also  observable  from 
the  fact,  that  the  greatest  geniuses,  are  glad  to  take  occa- 
sional refuge  in  foolery.  It  is  also  particularly  worthy  of 
remark,  that  the  rich  and  noble,  who,  certainly,  upon  the 
principle  of  foolery,  can  command  their  company ;  seldom 
surround  themselves  with  associates  of  distinguished  intel- 
lectual powers;  but  give  a  marked  preference  to  those  least 
able  to  set  the  Chesapeake  on  fire.  If,  at  any  time,  from  a 
misplaced  vanity,  an  individual  among  them,  seems  ambi- 
tious of  appearing  clever,  himself,  (as  it  is,  sometimes,  no 
doubt,  elegantly  called,)  and  seeks  to  open  his  table  to  the 
lettered,  the  scientific,  and  the  deep  thinker;  even  his 
choice  more  frequently  stumbles  upon  some  literary  cox- 
comb, or  stammering  blue  stocking  pretender;  or  some 
•wholesale  dealer  in  solemn  plausibilities,  or  worthy  block- 
head; whose  accidental  acquirements,  serve  only  to  render 
his  native  folly  more  saliently  conspicuous !  And  there- 
fore, he  who  would  get  on,  in  the  world  of  folly,  must  se- 
dulously hide  from  it  his  superiority. 

The  man  of  merit,  who  makes  an  open  displayof  his 
abilities,  is,  from  the  simple  fact  of  acknowledged  superi- 
ority, distrusted  by  the  fools,  and  hated.  Even  the  fools 
know  he  must  be  dissatisfied;  and  therefore  all  the  old  and 
approved  faculty,  in  the  Universities  of  Maryland,  were 
dangerous  men  !  Again :  it  is  true,  that  it  has  not  been 
the  dull  and  imbecile,  that  have  caused  any  of  the  convul- 
sions and  revolutions  recorded  in  history,  but  that  sect, 
hated  of  the  gods,  and  the  million  —  the  philosophers- 
Their  knowledge,  with  the  fools,  is  disaffection ;  and  their 
science,  infidelity !  Had  there  been  no  geniuses  in  France, 
in  favor  of  liberty,  Europe  would  not  have  groaned  under 


212       " THINGS  NEW  AND  OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

the  ambition  of  a  Bonaparte;  and  that  nation  of  fools,  the 
French,  might  have  enjoyed  the  Bourbon  monarchy,  to  this 
hour.  It  is  not,  then,  in  the  least  wonderful,  that  all  the 
wisest  governments  lay  themselves  deliberately  out,  for 
captivating  and  securing  the  good  graces  of  fools;  and  to 
give  an  illustration  in  our  own,  a  Jackson  or  Van  Buren, 
could  never  have  reached  the  presidential  chair,  but  through 
the  agency  of  fools.  For  the  benefit  of  fools,  indeed,  the 
most  pompous  ceremonies  have  been  performed  —  the  most 
expensive  feasts  served  up;  yes,  for  securing  the  suffrages 
of  the, fools,  speeches  of  the  idol  of  the  day,  have  been 
most  laboriously  conned  by  heart.  Numberless  gazettes, 
also,  have  been  published ;  ribbands,  and  medals,  and  sets 
of  plate,  multiplied;  and  state-trumpeters  hired  —  for  the 
especial  entertainment  of  fools.  If  none  but  wise  and  hon- 
est persons  were  to  be  consulted,  there  would  be  no  oc- 
casion for  long  and  late  debates ;  no  tedious  and  disgusting 
clashings  of  members  of  Congress ;  nor  even  the  usual  six 
months'  outrageously  expensive  farce  of  a  sitting  of  our 
Congress.  The  "  sic  volo,  sicjubeo"  of  any  military  chief- 
tain, would  answer  all  the  purposes  of  government ;  as  the 
same  idea  does,  when  you  talk,  since  Jackson  came  into 
office,  about  having  a  responsible  cabinet.  What,  we  ask, 
indeed,  is  diplomacy  itself,  and  the  whole  code  of  interna- 
tional law,  but  a  defferential  sacrifice  to  the  folly  of  man- 
kind ?  This  consideration  contains  the  philosophy  of  Ox- 
enstiern's  celebrated  axiom  :  and  satisfactorily  explains 
why  fools,  in  general,  make  the  most  popular  Popes,  Car- 
dinals, Bishops,  and  civil  magistrates  and  teachers.  They 
sympathize  with  the  public  for  whom  they  act  —  are  birds 
of  similar  feather;  and  they,  instinctively,  hit  upon  the 
measures  that  are  suited  to  the  intellectual  calibre  of  the 
million.  They  never,  by  the  brilliancy  of  their  concep- 
tions, disturb  the  settled  order  of  things  in  their  dead  sea ; 
nor  by  putting  their  fellows  upon  the  drudgery  of  thinking, 
disturb  their  digestion ;  and  thus  force  them  upon  this  most 


"THINGS'NEW    AND    OLD,"          213 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

disagreeable,  to  them,  of  the  functions  of  life  —  thinking  ! 
The  most  stupid  and  foolish  king,  that  ever  sat  on  the  Brit- 
ish throne,  (viz.  James,)  maintained  his  empire  in  peace, 
for  a  long  series  of  years ;  and  laid  the  foundation  for  that 
national  development,  or,  we  would  say,  rendered  neces- 
sary, that  resurrection  that  followed ;  and  thus  paved  the 
way  for  England  to  take  a  stand  with  the  first  class  of  na- 
tions ;  whilst  -the  knowing  monarchs  or  emperors  of  that 
day  —  the  Fredericks,  the  Louis  the  fourteenths  —  the 
Francises  — and  the  Charles  the  fifths,  imbrued  their  hands, 
incessantly,  in  the  blood  of  their  fellow  creatures,  and  made 
misery  for  their  subjects! !  ! 

But,  reader,  notwithstanding  this  our  advocacy  and  vin- 
dication of  fools,  we  are  wearied  and  disgusted  with  the 
greatness  of  their  folly,  and  must  here  come  to  a  close. 
For  all  must  perceive,  that  if  what  we  have,  in  sheer 
Irony,  preached,  in  the  foregoing  sermon,  be  Jrue ;  the  fol- 
lowing Inference  is  the  only  legitimate  one,  which  an  Evan- 
gelical, orthodox  Christian,  can  draw,  viz:  if  we  are  not 
too  wise — if  we  are  really  more  worthy  of  the  society  of 
India,  or  China,  or  the  Hottentots,  or  the  Malays,  than  of 
that  which  is  civilized  and  somewhat  moral  and  refined — 
we  may  set  ourselves  down  as  among  the  most  highly 
privileged  orders.  We  may  hold  our  head  at  the  highest, 
and  set  ourselves  unblushingly,  in  the  high  places ;  and 
laugh  to  scorn,  as  honest  fools  should  do,  every  one  who 
presumes  on  any  intellectual  superiority  ;  and  who  has  the 
insolent  pretensions  to  think  himself  better,  because  he  is 
wiser  than  his  neighbors,  and  has  got  the  start  of  the  age 
in  which  he  lives.  We  may  decry  talents,  and  science,  and 
orthodox  religion,  hardily;  neglect  genius  superciliously; 
put  our  "veto"  upon  all  attempts  at  illumination;  crush 
all  chartered  universities;  and  vote  consistency  and  con- 
stitutional legislation,  a  stab  in  the  breast,  at  noon-day ! 
Yes,  and  above  all,  but  finishing  the  climax,  as  far  as  our 
interest  and  patronage  extend,  be  sure  to  shut  out  from  pre- 


214  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ferment,  all  manner  of  persons  who  are  so  unfitted  for  place 
or  distinction,  as  our  Chief  Magistrate,  or  teachers,  in  either 
of  the  departments  of  Literature,  Science,  Medicine,  Poli- 
tics, or  Religion,  as  not  either  to  be,  or  at  least,  who  do  not 
affect  to  be  downright — God-accursed  fools  !  And  then,  we 
will  gire  you  time,  until  doomsday,  to  chant  that  most 
mellifluous  doxology: 

"  What  mighty  difference,  can  there  be, 
'Twixt  tweedledum  and  tweedledee  ? 
Our  Yackkoop  's  got  his  fiddle  home, 
And  we  shall  have  a  glorious  bee ! !  ! " 

Amen  and  Amen. 


SEBMON    IX. 


JOB    XXXII,    10. 
I   ALSO   WILL    SHOW    MY    OPfNION. 

READER: — The  "Book  of  Job,"  has  always  been  consider- 
ed, as  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  wonderful  portions 
of  the  "Sacred  Scriptures."  The  allegory  which  it  pre- 
sents, in  the  character  and  condition  —  the  prosperity  and 
adversity  —  the  almost  total  annihilation,  and  Ihe  resusita- 
tion  of  this  ancient  "  Man  of  God,"  seems  to  us,  to  have 
been  designed,  among  other  things,  particularly,  for  the 
trial  of  opinions;  all  of  which  however,  respect  one  and 
the  same  all-important  subject  —  the  Sovereignty  of  God, 
in  all  the  acts  and  affairs  of  the  universe.  In  the  book  it- 
self, we  are  furnished,  in  a  direct  regard  to  this  point,  — 
with  the  opinion  of  Job — with  the  opinion  of  his  wife  — 
with  the  opinion  of  his  "three  friends;"  and  with  the 
opinion  of  "  Elihu."  And  since  those  days,  we  have  been 
furnished  with  the  opinions,  on  the  same  subject,  of  many 
learned  annotators  and  commentators;  with  the  opinions  of 
Biblical  critics — Biblical  linguists  —  and  Biblical  exege- 
cians.  And  we  continue  to  be  furnished,  from  month  to 
month,  from  week  to  week,  and  from  day  to  day,  with  the 
novel  notions,  opinions,  conjectures  and  guesses,  of  the 
wise  men,  of  this  "  perverse  and  adulterous  generation." 
That  there  should  appear  to  be  a  great  discrepancy  in  the 


216  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

opinions  of  such  a  variety  of  characters,  is  naturally  to 
have  been  expected.  But  it  is  not  our  object,  nor  our  duty, 
on  this  occasion,  to  examine  this  variety  of  opinions;  and 
we  therefore,  leave  such  an  examination,  to  be  performed, 
at  their  leisure,  by  our  readers.  Our  object,  indeed,  in  giv- 
ing out  this  clause  for  our  text,  was  principally,  to  awaken 
interest  in  the  public  rnind,  and  a  desire  to  know  what  our 
opinion  is,  which  of  course,  it  will  be  expected  we  should 
give,  in  the  summing  up  and  conclusion  of  "  the  whole 
matter,"  of  this  volume  of  "Things  New  and  Old."  The 
materials  of  which  it  is  composed,  merit  the  earnest  peru- 
sal of  every  intelligent  Christian  not  only,  but  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  communion  in  Christendom. 

And  for  our  accommodation,  in  these  circumstances, 
reader,  we  have  selected,  and  design,  by  "  the  grace  of 
God,"  to  explain  and  illustrate,  the  following  passages  of 
Holy  Writ,  viz :  The  injunction  of  God's  servant,  Moses, 
contained  in 

DEUTERONOMY  XXXII,  7. 

REMEMBER  THE  DAYS  OF  OLD;  CONSIDER  THE  YEARS  OF  MANY 
[OR  ALL]  GENERATIONS;  ASK  THY  FATHER,  AND  HE  WILL  SHOW 
THEE;  THY  ELDERS,  AND  THEY  WILL  TELL  THEE: 

in  connection  with  the  declaration  of  Paul,  in 
ROMANS  VIII,  21,  22. 

FOR  WE  KNOW,  THAT  THE  WHOLE  CREATION  [THAT  IS,  THE 
ENTIRE  RACE  OF  FALLEN  MAN,  WITH  THE  EARTH  ITSELF,  IF 
YOU  CHOOSE,  SYMPATHETICALLAY]  GROANETH,  AND  TRAVAILETH 
IN  PAIN  TOGETHER,  TO  BE  DELIVERED  FROM  THE  BONDAGE 
OF  CORRUPTION,  INTO  THE  GLORIOUS  LIBERTY  OF  THE  CHIL- 
DREN OF  GOD. 

Reader :  —  The  first  part  of  our  text,  it  is-  obvious,  con- 
tains a  direct  and  solemn  injunction,  to  use  every  means  in 
our  power,  to  become  familiarly  acquainted  with  history. 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          217 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

And  the  second  part,  by  the  great  Apostle,  may  be  consid- 
ered as  announcing  a  reason  for  so  doing;  that  we  shall 
find  evidence  in  history,  as  well  as  in  the  word  'of  God, 
"  that  the  whole  creation  groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain 
together,  to  be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corruption, 
into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God."  Our  par- 
tial transposition  of  the  words,  has  been  done,  to  present 
the  ideas  to  our  readers,  evidently  intended  by  Paul,  in  a 
more  lucid  manner,  than  they  are  presented  in  our  English 
translation. 

The  works  of  God  in  his  providence,  or  the  history  of 
them,  have,  by  all  orthodox  divines,  been  considered  as 
legitimately,  a  text,  on  which  his  Word  is  the  comment.  In 
Creation  and  Providence,  that  is,  in  history,  we  ascertain 
what  is  done;  and  in  the  Holy  scriptures —  by  whom,  and 
why,  it  is  done. 

This,  therefore,  being  our  settled  and  abiding  opinion, 
that  the  history  of  the  '•  groanings,"  the  convulsions,  the 
"  travailing  in  pain  together,"  the  agonizing  struggles  of 
our  race,  since  the  fall,  clearly  evinces  the  sovereignty  of 
God,  and  the  Unity  of  our  race*»-With  such  a  view,  we 
cannot  fail  to  consider  history  of  the  greatest  importance. 

It  will  be  our  object,  in  the  ensuing  discourse,  to  review, 
in  a  transient  manner,  the  great  and  leading  features  in  the 
history  of  the  convulsions  and  struggles  which  have  marked 
the  progress  of  our  fallen  race.  It  is  no  new  idea,  reader, 
to  us,  and  to  you,  that  the  present  is  a  convulsive  and  most 
struggling  age.  All  the  political,  as  well  as  religious,  ele- 
ments of  the  world,  seem  everywhere  in  motion ;  and  all 
nations,  and  individuals,  appear  busy,  either  as  actors  in, 
or  spectators  of  the  fermented  and  interesting  scene.  And 
while  new  convulsions  and  struggles,  are  in  progress;  old 
ones  are,  with  the  thinking,  and  truly  religious  and  intelli- 
gent class  of  the  community,  becoming,  in  a  peculiar  man- 
ner, the  themes  of  conversation,  and  of  deep  and  most 


218          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

interesting  research.  Yes,  Christian  scholars,  of  this  age, 
who  have  leisure,  and  means,  and  talents  for  this  investi- 
gation, are  daily,  and  hourly,  going  back  to  the  ancient 
fields  of  the  convulsions  and  struggles  of  their  fellow  men. 
They  are  examining  the  principles  of  those  convulsions, 
which  gave  them  birth;  noticing  the  connections  of  all  re- 
markable events;  and  some  are  engaged,  from  age  to  age, 
under  God,  in  writing  the  lives  of  the  leaders,  in  those 
convulsions  and  struggles.  Yes,  under  the  immediate  agen- 
cy and  control  of  the  providence  of  God,  all  this  is  done. 
And  who  can  refuse  to  rejoice  that  this  is  so?  that  many, 
even  now,  are  made  by  Him,  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  the 
past?  Inihis  fact,  we  find  all  needed  encouragement  for 
the  future.  We  have  a  view  of  past  events,  in  the  history 
of  the  convulsions  and  struggles  of  by -gone  generations, 
which  establishes  our  faith,  in  the  sentiment,  that  all  the 
more  recent  and  present  ones  are  for  good.  But  if  one  and 
the  same  cause,  as  represented  in  our  texts,  occasions  these 
convulsions,  "  Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  the 
years  of  many  (all)  generations;  ask  thy  father  and  he 
will  show  thee;  thy  elders  and  they  will  tell  thee; — For 
we  know,  that  the  whole  creation,  (with  the  earth  itself, 
sympathetically)  groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain  together; 
to  be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  into  the 
glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God,"  how,  we  ask, 
ought  History  to  be  written,  and  how  ought  it  to  be  read? 
The  object  of  History,  we  here  see,  ought  not  to  be  merely 
the  recording  of  facts.  The  "  whole  creation,"  the  world; 
its  ancient,  distant,  and  widely  extended  climes,  and  popu- 
lation; with  all  the  varieties  of  situation  and  climate; 
make,  when  brought  together,  only  one,  great  whole. 
Therefore,  the  events  which  have  occurred  in  it,  and  which, 
under  God,  are  every  day  evolved,  and  which  will  hereaf- 
ter occur,  are  all  linked  together,  in  one  ne-ver-to-be-broken, 
chain.  All  the  past,  has  had  an  influence  in  the  produc- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          219 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

tion  of  the  present  state  of  things.  And,  the  present  agen- 
cies employed,  we  may  rest  assured,  are  operating  Almigh- 
tily,  with  respect  to  the  future. 

Yonder  sun,  which  moves  so  gloriously  in  his  splendor 
and  magnificence,  over  the  centre  of  our  globe;  starting 
forth,  in  their  season,  verdure  and  foliage,  in  all  the  varie- 
ties of  beauty  and  luxuriance;  and  which  thus  receives  in 
return,  the  voluntary  homage  of  rejoicing  nature,  in  the 
myriads  of  the  forms  of  her  productive  existence;  is  the 
very  same  glorious  orb,  which  in  yonder  frozen  regions  of 
the  poles,  only  just  peeps  dimly,  and  cheerlessly  forth,  from 
the  extreme  horizon ;  and  then  seems  to  hasten  away,  as 
though  shuddering  at  the  chilling  dreariness,  which  there 
enshrouds  the  whole  scene.  Just  so  man,  in  the  civilized 
world,  as  he  here  stands  forth  in  his  strength  and  dignity, 
in  his  intellectual  vigor,  and  sometimes,  moral  elevation  — 
the  searcher  of  the  earth  —  the  navigator  of  oceans  —  the 
admitted  student  of  the  Seminary  of  the  entire  arc  of  the 
sky  —  is  the  self-same  being  —  the  same  in  form,  in  mind, 
and  in  his  eternal  destination  ;  as  the  poor,  creeping,  un- 
tutored, and  ignorant  Indian;  who  looks  upon  the  little 
spot  of  earth  around  him,  as  the  whole  of  creation ;  upon 
the  ocean,  as  a  something,  he  knows  not  what;  and  ex- 
tending, he  knows  not  where;  and  therefore  he  stands, 
gazing,  with  mingled  emotions  of  fear  and  admiration,  as 
the  lights  of  heaven,  alternately  rise  and  set  —  glow,  or 
fade  away. 

Yes,  man  is,  and  always  has  been,  the  same  being; 
whether  we  contemplate  him  in  his  strength  and  dignity  — 
or  in  his  weakness  and  degradation  —  in  his  knowledge  or 
his  ignorance  —  his  highest  elevation,  or  lowest  depression 
—  he  is,  in  the  light  of  both  history  and  the  Bible,  s  ill  the 
same.  He  is.,  by  an  irreversible  law,  ahvays  dependent 
upon  his  fellow-man  —  always  exerting  an  influence  upon 
the  events  and  characters  which  are  to  follow  —  and  doing 
something,  either  of  good,  or  evil,  which  will  inevitably, 
affect  those  who  come  after  him. 


220          "THINGS    PTE  W    AND    OLD,' 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

We  therefore  see,  reader,  that  the  peculiar  object  of  his- 
tory, is  not  merely  the  recording  of  facts.  Its  most  inter- 
esting agency,  in  the  view  which  we  take  of  it,  is  to  exhibit 
the  course  of  man,  in  his  various  struggles  since  the  "  fall," 
to  rise  from  "darkness  to  light"  —from  a  state  ol  barba- 
rism to  a  state  of  civilization  —  and  from  civilization,  to  a 
state  of  refined,  intellectual  and  moral  glory;  or,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  apostle,  "  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
children  of  God."  The  great  utility  of  history,  therefore, 
is  to  exhibit  the  principles  which  are  'now  governing,  and 
which  always  have  governed  man;  to  hold  forth  to  our 
view,  the  end,  to  which,  under  God,  he  has  always  been 
aiming;  and  to  point  out  to  us,  the  course  which  he  must 
pursue,  in  order  to  approach  that  end.  Hence,  to  do  its 
duty  faithfully,  to  adorn  itself  in  its  most  alluring  dress, 
and  to  act  in  its  enlarged  and  most  appropriate  sphere, 
philosophical  history  annihilates  all  the  artificial  bounda- 
ries, which  separate  one  nation  from  another.  Evangeli- 
cal, philosophical  history,  should  treat  man,  whatever  his 
situation,  whatever  his  character,  in  whatever  age  he  may 
have  lived,  as  one  great  family  ;  though  indeed,  consisting 
of  many  members ;  yet,  as  having  originated  in  the  same 
Divine  source;  to  be  always  operated  upon  by  the  same 
principles,  and  always  going  forward,  if  he  go  right,  to' the 
same  end. 

Still,  we  admit,  that  history  may,  indeed  it  must,  mark 
down  passing  events,  when  and  where  they  transpire.  Yes, 
it  must  give  us  the  names  of  the  leaders,  in  the  convulsions 
and  struggles  of  the  race  —  tell  us  when  they  lived  —  what 
famous  and  important  actions  they  performed  —  what  lands 
or  people,  they  either  blessed  or  cursed ;  in  a  word,  how 
/they  rose,  and  how  some  of  them  fell.  Yes,  history  must 
do  more — it  must  go  farther  than  merely  to  notice  those 
great  men,  and  great  things  —  these  telegraphs  in  the  story 
of  the  convulsions  of  man.  It  must  also  take  notice  of  the 
humbler  characters,  who  have  acted  their  part  in  the  great 
drama  of  the  race.  And  farther,  philosophical  history 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  221 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

must  exhibit  many  of  the  inferior  events,  which  serve  to 
connect  the  superior  together.     Yes,  all  this,  history  should 
do.     But  still,  this,  as  we  have  before  stated,  is  not  its  chief 
object.     This  is  what  we  would  represent  as  the  mere  un- 
dertaking part  of   the  work  —  the  gathering  together  of 
materials,  for  the  appropriate  building.     Indeed,  when  all 
this  has  been  done,  the  labor  of  the  real  edifice,  is  but  com- 
menced; as  order,  beauty,  utility,  and  its  appropriate  mag- 
nificence and  sublimity,  are  not  yet  to  be  seen.     And  these 
indispensible  characteristics,  will  not  be  visible,  until  the 
deep  and  broad  foundation  is  laid;  the  splendid  pillars  and 
columns  of  all  time,  brought  forward,  polished,  and  erected, 
and  the  work  completed.     Then  it  will  attract,  and  fasten 
hold  upon  our  attention,  as  being,  indeed,  a  philosophical, 
imperishable  temple — in  one  compact,  complete,  and  most 
magnificent  whole.     Believe  it,  reader,  the  grand  purpose, 
and  great  beauty,  of  philosophical  history,  are  not  displayed, 
until  it  exhibits  man,  to  us,  not  as  an  individual,  but  as-  a 
race;  not  as  acting,  in  any  instance,  so  as  to  affect  himself 
alone ;  but  so  as  to  affect,  most  powerfully,  all  around  him 
now,  and  before  him  in  the  future.     O  !  yes,  reader,  history, 
which  truly  reaches  its  legitimate  and  lofty  philosophical 
aim,  will  contemplate  great  events,  as  not  merely  occurring 
here  or  there  —  as  originated  and  conducted  by  this  or  that 
distinguished  leader;  but  merely  as  parts  of  that  august 
series  of  struggles  and  convulsions;  of  events  and  charac- 
ters which  commenced  at  the  fall  of  man,  in  the  beginning 
of  time;  and  which  will  end  only  with  time;  which  rep- 
resents each  as  exerting  an  influence  on  all  which  succeed ; 
though  often  unseen,  yet  never  unfelt;  which  reaches  back- 
ward in  their  causes  to  the  first  —  and  forward  in  their 
effects,  to  the  last  link  of  that  grand  chain  which  holds  all 
the  race  in  its  embrace ;  and  of  which 

"  Whatever  link  you  break 
Tenth,  or  ten  thousandth,  breaks  the  chain  alike." 


222          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

And  what  reader  can  repress  the  interrogation  here  —  how- 
beautiful —  how  ennobling  —  how  grand,  is  such  a  view  of 
the  convulsions  and  struggles  of  the  human  family,  and  of 
their  destination?  Ages,  have  already  rolled  rapidly,  past 
each  other  —  generation  has  succeeded  generation  —  but  the 
tie,  which  was  ordained  of  God,  to  connect  man  with  his 
fellow-man,  has  never  yet,  and  never  can  be,  sundered. 

Those,  therefore,  who  have  gone  before  us,  have  con- 
tributed their  influence  to  place  us  where  we  now  are;  and 
we,  in  our  turn  and  several  spheres,  are  engaged  only  in 
carrying  forward  the  scenes  of  the  same  great  drama,  in 
which  they  performed.  Yes,  there  is  not  a  great  event, 
in  the  history  of  all  the  past,  wherever  and  by  whom 
achieved,  which  has  yet  ceased  to  operate,  or  that  ever  will. 
There  is  not  named  in  history,  a  distinguished  character, 
noted  for  his  virtues,  or  his  crimes,  who  has  ever  trodden 
this  footstool  of  God;  who  does  not  continue  to  live,  in 
either  the  good  or  ill  influences  of  his  life.  "Saith  the 
Scripture  —  He,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 

The  foregoing,  reader,  are  clearly  Bibje  views,  with  re- 
spect to  the  Unity,  of  our  race;  and  of  course,  the  history 
of  it  should  be  composed  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  exhibit 
and  sustain,  this  Unity.  If  this  be  so,  it  clearly  follows, 
that  we  should  peruse  history,  with  the  same  views,  with 
which  we  have  now  shown,  it  should  be  composed.  And 
indeed,  we  might  conclude,  that  this  would  be  a  natural 
consequence.  But  here,  let  us  inquire  —  do  not  readers, 
generally,  disregard  this  great  and  extensive  view  of  our 
race,  when  reading  the  accounts  of  the  actions,  which  in- 
dividuals, or  particular  nations,  have  performed  ?  Do  not 
the  greater  portion  of  even  scholars,  think,  and  speak,  of 
the  ancients,  the  moderns;  the  "old  world,"  and  the  "new," 
as  things  distinct,  and  wide  apart?  Do  they  not  consider 
the  one,  as  beginning  where  the  other  ended,  without  rela- 
tion to,  and  as  independent  of,  each  other?  When  they 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          223 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

have  studied  the  history  of  even  our  own  revolutionary 
'•'struggle,"  did  they  connect  it,  in  their  minds,  with  all 
preceding  struggles,  as  but  a  part  of  one  whole?  Have 
not  readers,  in  general,  rather  viewed  this,  as  standing  by 
itself  —  as  having  been  wrought  out,  under  the  sovereignty 
of  God,  by  our  hands  alone,  without  aid  from  by-gone  gen- 
erations? 

And,  in  their  readings  of  history,  where,  ages  ago,  and 
in«other  countries,  the  oppressed  has  wrestled  with  the  op- 
pressor; when  they  witness  the  displays  of  patriotism  and 
valor,  which  those  spots  afford ;  do  they  not  look  upon  the 
victories  there  achieved,  as  belonging  only  to  the  time  and 
place  in  which  they  were  produced?  And  this,  without 
reflecting,  as  they  ought,  that  all  these  are  but  parts  of  the 
great  and  thrilling  history  of  man.  That  those  spots  which 
bore  witness  of  them,  are  immortalized,  not  so  much  by  the 
events  themselves,  as  by  the  boundless  influence  which  they 
have  exerted,  on  all  succeeding  generations.  France, 
Spain,  Germany,  England,  Rome,  Greece,  may  have,  in 
their  turn,  witnessed  them ;  and  if  there  be  any  glory  in 
such  a  circumstance,  be  it  theirs,  respectively  —  be  it  theirs, 
in  toto.  Still,  we  say,  the  influence  of  those  events,  paused 
not  at  the  boundaries  of  either  of  them.  It  did  not,  in  the 
least,  decrease,  during  the  age  which  saw  them.  The 
world  has  felt  that  influence;  the  human  race  has  possessed 
it.  To  the  world,  then  —  to  the  human  race,  yes.  even  to 
us,  belongs  the  influence  of  all  those  events  to  which  we 
allude,  in  all  their  greatest  interest. 

Do  not  the  ideas,  here,  reader,  which  we  have  now  ex- 
pressed on  the  manner,  in  which  history  should  be  compo- 
sed, and  perused,  naturally  arise  in  our  minds,  as  we  thus 
take  a  view  of  the  history  of  those  great  convulsions, 
groanings,  and  throes,  which  from  time  to  time,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Almighty,  have  agitated  the  world?  We 
mean  to  ask,  here ;  does  not  the  idea,  that  the  intimate  con- 
nexion, between  all  ages  and  generations  of  the  race — the 


224          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

idea,  that  the  present  is  the  combination  of  the  results  of 
the  past  —  and  that  the  future  must  be  the  combination  of 
the  results  of  both,  naturally  arise  in  our  mind,  when,  un- 
der the  column  of  light  we  have  now  furnished,  we  con- 
template the  history,  of  the  past  convulsions,  and  struggles 
of  the  race?  We  think,  and  believe,  it  cannot  be  other- 
wise. For  what,  reader,  under  God,  are  the  convulsions, 
and  struggles,  and  throes,  in  the  history  of  man'?  Are  they 
not  a  series  of  experiments,  which  God  has  ordained,  the 
human  race  should  make  upon  itself'?  They  certainly  are. 
And  we  see,  for  ourselves,  that  it  is  with  these  experiments, 
performed  under  God,  by  man,  upon  himself;  precisely,  as 
with  those  of  philosophy,  or  mechanics.  In  these  last 
mentioned,  we  see,  the  operation  of  causes,  in  producing 
the  great  ultimate  effect;  and  comprehend  that  effect,  it- 
self, the  better,  the  broader  the  scale,  on  which  the  experi- 
ments are  tried.  Yes,  reader,  the  same  principle  will  ever 
hold  true,  in  this  noblest  of  all  philosophies  —  the  Philos- 
ophy of  Man. 

Great  convulsions,  groanings,  and  throes,  the  loud  rushes 
of  the  hosts  to  their  battles,  are,  under  God,  great  experi- 
ments— experiments  on  a  broad  scale.  Truly,  God  gener- 
ally orders  that  they  should  be  originated  and  led  on,  by  su- 
perior minds ;  though  far  from  being  always  good.  And  all 
these  are  made  to  operate,  by  the  combined  effects  of  com- 
bined causes;  which,  in  their  separate  operation  would  be 
unseen;  but  which,  the  great,  combined  result,  makes  mani- 
fest. Whenever,  and  wherever,  they  may  have  commenced ; 
they  are  now  clearly  seen  not  to  have  terminated,  with 
those,  who  immediately  passed  through  them;  but  like  the 
boisterous  waves  of  ocean,  when  the  violence  of  the  tor- 
nado has  passed  by,  to  have  spread,  and  extended  round 
and  round,  and  farther  and  farther,  and  still  reached  for- 
ward, to  the  most  remote  vestige  of  man. 

Great  convulsions,  in  a  word,  reader,  may  be  called  the 
prominent  and  enduring  telegraphic  observatories,  on  the 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          225 

TO  DIVERSE    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 


highway  of  man,  through  time.  They  are  far  raised,  by1 
God,  above  all  that  surrounds  them,  that  they  may  point 
out  to  us,  the  progress,  not  of  this,  or  that,  particular  na- 
tion, but  of  the  entire  family  of  man. 

It  is  in  these  convulsions,  struggles,  and  throes,  therefore; 
and  for  the  reasons  just  given,  that  we  most  clearly  trace, 
the  God-ordainedVeverlasting  tie,  which  links  nation  with 
nation,  and  man  with  man,  from  fallen  Adam,  to  the  last 
of  the  species  that  will  be  born.  It  is  from  these,  and  for 
the  foregoing  reasons,  that  -we  cannot  fail,  it  should  seem, 
to  learn;  that  the  only,  correct  view,  which  history  can 
take  of  the  family  of  man,  is  the  extended  and  compre- 
hensive one,  which  we  have  exhibited.  It  must  present 
the  whole  family,  as  constituting  only  one  great  phalanx, 
without  distinction  of  territory  or  time,  steadily  moving 
onward,  under  God,  to  one  great  end.  Each  generation, 
and  each  event,  doing  something,  to  help  forward  the  same 
cause.  The  earth,  as  it  has  been,  and  as  it  still  is  ;  should 
be  considered  one  extended  theatre  ;  man,  indeed,  in  his 
thousand  varieties,  but  still,  making  only  one,  great,  con- 
nected whole. 

Yes,  reader,  these  views  which  we  have  here,  given  of 
our  race  and  their  struggles,  are  the  correct  ones;  the 
"  groanings  aud  throes  "  themselves,  are  lprima  facie  ' 
evidence,  from  the  beginning  until  now,  of  their  unity  of 
interest,  end,  and  aim  ;  therefore,  a  regular  and  connected 
history  of  their  course,  becomes  ineffably  interesting,  and 
important.  We  freely  admit,  as  we  have  said  before,  that 
the'  convulsions  and  struggles,  which  always  are  considered 
revolutionary  —  evincing  a  desire,  and  design,  to  bring  about 
a  change  in  their  condition,  are  interesting  in  themselves, 
considered  only  in  reference  to  the  times,  and  places,  in 
which  they  occurred.  Bnt  they  are  no  farther  so,  if  uncon- 
nected, than  all  that  is  strange  and  marvellous,  is  interest- 
ing. How  greatly,  therefore,  is  this  interest  heightened, 
and  rendered  absolutely  intense  ;  how  greatly  is  the  impor- 
15 


226  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

tance  of  these  struggles  augmented,  and  how  do  they  arrest 
our  attention,  on  our  discovering  that  they  are  not  distinct 
and  separate  things;  that  they  are  neither  local,  temporary, 
nor  transient ;  how  great  soever  their  difference  may  be,  in 
lesser  points,  they  are  yet,  of  the  same  origin ;  from  pre- 
cisely the  same  principles,  dissatisfaction  with  their  present 
fallen,  and  wretched,  natural  condition-  which,  by  these 
struggles,  these  revolutionary  convulsions ;  they  desire  and 
design,  to  alter  and  improve;  as  saith  our  apostle,  "to  be 
delivered  from  the  bondage."  Yes,  these  struggles,  are 
made  with  a  view  to  throw  off  the  incumbent  mass  of 
misery,  which,  since  the  fall,  has  weighed  down  man's 
spirit  to  the  earth;  and,  according  to  history,  they  have,  in 
one  respect,  or  another,  always  resulted  in  some  advance, 
small  though  it  often  has  been,  still,  some  advance,  towards 
a  recovery  from  their  degradation,  to  the  enjoyment  of  in- 
tellectual and  moral  objects,  for  which  they  were  originally 
formed. 

Yes,  we  of  the  present  age  and  generation,  it  must  be 
admitted,  move  on,  in  the  light  of  comparative  freedom, 
from  much  of  the  darkness,  and  many  of  the  shackels, 
by  which  past  generations  were  afflicted.  We,  in  these 
United  States,  particularly,  have  long  been  permitted, 
under  the  providence  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  to  celebrate, 
periodically,  the  precious  and  peculiar  privileges  of  civil 
and  religious  freedom  —  yea,  the  privileges  of  unrestrained 
thought  and  action,  which  we  have  been  permitted  to  ob- 
tain. And  as  we,  in  the  exercise  of  a  truly  Christian  spirit, 
are  permitted  to  go  onward,  with  a  buoyant  step,  andean 
animated  eye;  we  can  point  to  the  struggles  of  our  revo- 
lutionary convulsion,  as  the  means,  under  God,  by  which 
our  privileges  were  obtained.  These,  a  great  proportion 
of  the  race,  to  this  hour,  are  not  permitted  to  enjoy. 

And  here  let  us  ask,  will  not  the  benevolent  and  grateful 
feelings  which  the  success  of  our  struggles  in  our  revolu- 
tion, so  justly  excites,  be  increased  and  elevated;  will  not 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          227 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

that  triumph  acquire  an  interest  and  a  splendor,  unspeaka- 
bly greater,  when  we  perceive,  in  the  light  of  our  discus- 
sion, that,  after  all,  this  also,  stands  not  alone,  an  isolated 
historic  fact;  that  it  commenced  not  with  us,  and  will  stop 
not  with  us ;  that  all  past  events  have  actually  been  en- 
gaged, under  God,  in  preparing  the  way  for  it ;  and  each 
preceding  generation  been  active  in  bringing  it  to  pass  ? 
Such  are  the  views  of  the  ablest  theologians,  who  have 
written  upon  this  subject,  and  with  them,  we  most  heartily 
accord.  We  look  upon  the  history  of  man,  since  his  apos- 
tacy  from  his  Maker,  as  one  continued  struggle  for  the  re- 
covery of  intellectual  and  moral  freedom,  which  he  then 
lost.  Yes,  that  apostacy  degraded,  absolutely  debased  him 
—  cast  him  down,  to  be,  thenceforth,  until  delivered  by 
grace,  trodden  under  every  foot;  and  he  has  been  doomed, 
ever  since,  naturally  to  crawl  in  the  very  dust.  Tyranny, 
and  with  that,  ignorance  and  vice,  have  bound  him  in  their 
accursed  fetters ;  and,  as  it  were,  in  many  instances,  buried 
him  in  the  dark  caverns  of  the  earth. 

But  yet,  thanks  be  to  God,  for  he  has  never  permitted 
the  spirit  of  man's  immortal  aspirations,  to  be  entirely 
extinguished.  As  a  race,  man,  has  never  been  permitted 
to  despair.  Hope,  that  heavenly  boon  —  hope  which  comes 
to  all  nations,  as  well  as  individuals — eternal  hope,  has 
never  deserted  him.  In  his  profoundest  degradation  —  in 
his  darkest  prison-house,  this  heavenly  visitant  has  stood 
by  him,  and  pointed  his  view  onward,  and  upward.  This 
heavenly  gift  —  this  moral  and  spiritual  principle,  predes- 
tinated and  bestowed  by  God,  for  the  purpose  of  high  at- 
tainments, has  always  been  operating  within  the  mind  of 
man;  and  urging  him  forward  to  something  better  ahead. 

"  Here,  man,  in  his  natural,  fallen,  dark-minded  state, 
knows  not  what  it  is  —  this  restless,  undefined,  evanescent 
something,  within ;  but  he  has  felt  it  compel  him  to  make 
an  effort;  and  though  mysterious,  it  is  animating,  and 
though  remote,  it  is  glorious.  His  eye,  therefore,  under 


228  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

God,  has  ever  been  upon  it,  and  his  stumbling  footsteps  ever 
towards  it.  Yes,  his  ever  active  spirit  has  longed  to  lay 
hold  of  it,  though  he  yet  knows  not  what  it  is.  In  his  low- 
est barbarism,  man  has  clung  to  it  as  to  life,  though  accor- 
ding to  the  Scripture,  "  he  comprehended  it  not." 

But,  perpetual  thanks  be  to  God,  with  us,  of  the  present 
day,  this  is  not  a  mystery.  "  The  Light,"  that  has  broken 
in  upon  the  race,  from  on  high,  has  revealed  to  us  what  it 
was.  It  was  none  other  than  that  which  really  is  enjoyed 
by  all  the  Christian  world.  They  were  struggling  in  the 
dark,  while  in  barbarism,  for  the  "  Gospel  Freedom,"  which 
we  enjoy.  They  were  struggling  for  freedom  of  mind  — 
for  independence  of  soul ;  yea,  for  intellectual  and  moral 
improvement  —  for  freedom  to  range  in  thought  over  the 
boundless  empire  of  immortal  mind — to  compass  the  earth 
— and  be  fitted,  by  an  by,  to  ascend  to  Heaven.  Yes, 
reader,  this  is  the  great  cause,  which,  though  comparative- 
ly but  lately  developed,  has  produced,  under  the  decree 
and  agency  of  God,  the  continuous  and  united  efforts  —  the 
convulsions  and  struggles  of  the  race,  during  all  the  past. 
It  is,  therefore,  you  see,  reader,  in  reference  to  this  fact, 
that  we  say,  history,  to  be  perfect,  should  be  entire;  that 
its  views,  to  be  correct,  should  be  connected,  into  one,  un- 
broken chain.  Recognizing,  therefore,  this  now  completely 
established  principle ;  we  will  proceed  to  notice,  particular- 
ly, in  this  connected  view,  some  of  those  convulsionary 
changes,  or  revolutions,  which  are  exhibited  in  the  great 
story  of  man. 

It  will  not  be  expected,  however,  that  we  should  lead  the 
attention  of  our  readers,  back  through  the  convulsions  or 
revolutions,  during  Old  Testament  times ;  those  we  hope 
and  trust,  are  already  familiar.  We  commence  our  illus- 
trations of  this  character,  at  the  Era  of  Christianity ;  and 
of  the  convulsionary  revolutions  its  introduction  produced. 

This,  was  in  every  respect,  a  most  interesting  period.  It 
was  the  one,  to  which  man,  and  the  providence  of  God,  as 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          229 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

exhibited  by  all  prior  history,  had  been  preparing:  called, 
"  The  fullness  of  time" — that  is,  the  period,  for  which  all 
preceding  time,  had  been  making  ready.  It  therefore,  stands 
out  before  us,  with  most  conspicuous  light.  Not  because, 
a  New  order  of  things,  in  the  Divine  system  —  different  in 
nature,  causes,  and  tendency,  from  the  Old,  was  then  es- 
tablished; but  because  a  new  and  mighty  engine,  was  then 
first  brought  down  from  heaven,  and  sent  forth,  under  God, 
in  aid  of  the  same  cause,  which  before,  had  made  but  slow 
and  feeble  progress.  For  these  reasons,  therefore,  that 
Christianity,  embodies  in  itself,  the  result  of  all  preceding 
convulsions  and  struggles  of  the  race  —  and  because  the 
series  of  events  from  that  period  to  the  present,  has  been  of 
sufficient  length  to  illustrate  their  connexion  —  it  must  be 
admitted  by  every  reader,  that  it  is  a  highly  appropriate 
point,  from  which  we  start  in  our  illustrations. 

We  stand  then,  now,  at  our  present  view,  in  the  light  of 
that  amazing  period,  which  has  been  immortalized,  by  the 
introduction,  to  our  race,  of  Christianity !  And  here,  let 
us  ask  —  what  is  the  first  and  most  natural  idea,  which 
rises  in  the  mind  of  an  intelligent  Christian  historian?  It 
is  unquestionably,  this  —  That  we  are  here  standing  in  the 
midst  of  an  amazing  change !  an  august,  convulsionary 
moral  revolution!  A  change,  glorious  in  itsel/ — but  in- 
comparably more  so,  when  viewed  in  its  tremendous  and 
never-ending  effects,  upon  the  human  race  ! 

Yes,  that  "star  which  rose  in  the  east"  —  mild,  peacea- 
ble and  radiant  as  "the  young  child"  to  whom  it  pointed; 
that  "guide  of  the  wise  men  —  the  light,"  as  it  has  already 
proved  to  be,  "of  the  world;"  yes,  that  "star  in  the  east," 
was  the  herald  of  an  event  mightier  in  itself,  and  mightier 
in  its  consequences,  than  any  other,  upon  which  yonder 
sun,  in  its  all  pervading  and  dazzling  glory,  has  ever  looked ! 
That  ptean  of  angels,  which  sounded  in  the  ears  of  the 
shepherds,  on  the  plains  of  Bethlehem,  proclaimed  the  ad- 
vent of  a  Being,  in  the  cause  of  man,  before  whom,  and 


230          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  '  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

before  whose  kingdom,  tyranny,  and  ignorance,  and  vice, 
were  to  tremble,  and  have  already  trembled;  and  ungodly 
conquerors  of  the  earth  —  oppressors  of  their  fellow  men, 
have,  in  many  instances,  already,  abashed,  "  fled  away"  ! 
Indeed,  the  introduction  of  Christianity,  produced,  "ac- 
cording to  promise,"  a  wonderful  change  in  the  state  and 
condition  of  the  race.  And  here,  let  us  inquire,  where  can 
we  learn  that  such  events  belong  to  the  race  ;  that  they  are 
interesting  to  man,  whenever,  and  wherever  he  is  .found,  if 
not  from  this — the  greatest  of  the  changes  which  man,  in 
all  his  course,  has  experienced  ?  Where  can  we  be  taught, 
that,  according  to  the  eternal  economy  of  God,  the  great 
end  of  all  the  great  convulsions  and  events  in  the  history 
of  man,  has  been  the  redemption,  the  moral  improvement, 
the  progress  and  elevation  of  the  race,  if  not  in  this —  this: 
"  Heaven's  best  gift  to  man  "  ?  And  we  are  not  doomed 
here  to  say,  that  this  marvelous  engine  —  Christianity  — 
ceased  to  operate,  with  its  effects  upon  those  to  whom  it 
was  first  made  known.  No ;  on  the  contrary,  the  influence 
of  this  greatest  of  agencies,  put  forth  by  God,  in  aid  of  the 
struggles  of  man,  was  neither  limited,  nor  partial.  But 
here,  is  it  soberly  asked,  after  all  we  have  said,  "For 
what,  was  Christianity  ?"  We  answer,  it  came  to  correct 
the,  corrupted  ideas  of  the  race;  to  make  them  distinctly 
understand  and  believe,  that  there  is  one  supreme  GOD  — 
a  kind,  a  beneficent  Father  of  them  all,  however  corrupt 
and  depraved;  it  speaks,  definitely,  to  them,  of  an  here- 
after—  a  state  of  future  rewards,  and  punishments  —  a 
heaven,  and  a  hell.  Yes,  and  it  did  more  than  this  —  it 
came  near  to  man,  as  a  mere  inhabitant  of  the  earth.  It 
teaches  him,  that,  debased  as  he  naturally  and  artificially 
is,  he  is  yet  an  immortal  being;  that  he  possesses  a  mind 
in  the  very  image  of  his  Maker ;  that  he  is  capable  of  no- 
ble attainments,  even  here;  of  even  recovering  the  original 
image  of  his  God,  and  the  privilege  of  constant  communion 
with  him,  which  he  lost  in  the  "  fall."  This  spirit  —  Chris- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  231 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

tianity  —  bids  him  cultivate,  improve  and  adorn.  It  com- 
mands him  to  "  wake,-and  rise-up;"  and  proffers  him  the 
aid  of  the  "Holy  Ghost,"  to  enable  him  to  rise,  and  to 
shake  off  all  the  burden  of  tyranny,  ignorance,  and  vice, 
and  of  his  fellow-man  ;  to  burst  asunder  all  the  shackles 
which  bind  down  his  exalted  nature  !  Yes,  this,  briefly, 
was  the  grand  and  holy  purpose  of  Christianity  —  to  fit 
man  for  heaven,  by  first  making  him  all  that  he  should  be. 
on  the  earth  ;  and  to  furnish  him  with  all  needed  impulse 
in  a  heavenward  direction,  which  the  race  shall  recognize 
and  feel,  to  the  end  of  time. 

And  here,  reader,  we  cannot  but  ask,  (in  grief,  that  it 
should  be  proper  and  expedient,  in  our  professedly  Chris- 
tian country.)  have  the  heaven-declared  purpose,  and  end, 
of  the  introduction  of  Christianity  to  our  race,  been  chang- 
ed? Has  its  influence,  at  any  time,  ceased?  Have  its 
doctrines  and  duties,  its  promises  or  threatenings,  been  in 
the  least  modified  or  changed?  No;  the  influence  of  Chris- 
tianity has  not  ceased.  In  itself,  it  is,  and  ever  has  been," 
the  same.  It  sheds  forth  the  same  spirit;  it  teaches  the 
same  doctrines;  it  reads  to  us  the  same  lessons;  gives  the 
same  sanctions,  examples,  hopes,  and  fears;  and  demands, 
with  Infinite  Authority,  the  same  worship,  as  when  it  came 
from  the  lips  of  its  Divine,  Omnicient,  and  Omnipotent 
Proclaimer.  Yes,  indeed,  the  influence  of  Christianity, 
has  never  ceased.  Its  glorious  light  has  shone  on,  and 
shines  at  this  hour,  with  one  "unvarying,  never  expiring 
blaze.  Yet,  we  know,  she  is  often  sadly  and  temporarily 
dimned,  by  the  devices  of  the  accursed  foe ;  but  yet,  blessed 
be  God,  her  light  never  has  been,  never  can  be,  extinguish- 
ed. And  now,  therefore,  as  we  see.  reader,  that  the  long 
existing  cloud,  over  the  race,  has  been,  in  part,  rolled  away; 
and  we,  of  the  present  day,  are  permitted  to  trace  its 
gloriously  triumphant  march,  along  the  line  of  nations, 
throughout  the  earth,  as  "a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and  as 


232          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

a  pillar  of  fire  by  night;  "  who  can  repress  the  salutation 
to  the  race,  "Hail  ye,  who -are  highly  favored?" 

The  convulsionary  revolution,  which  attended  the  intro- 
duction, of  this  wonderful  engine,  Christianity,  to  the  aid 
of  our  "struggling  and  groaning"  race,  is  long  since  over. 
The  merciful,  but  yet,  Omnipotent,  herald,  by  whom,  it 
was  introduced,  long  since,  finished  his  course-;- arose  from 
the  dead,  and,  in  presence  of  hundreds  of  witnesses,  as- 
cended up  into  heaven;  where  he  is  wrapped,  in  incon- 
ceivable, and  everlasting  glory.  But  the  moral  and  Reli- 
gious engine,  which  he  brought  us  —  Christianity,  as  we 
have  alreedy  seen,  he  left  behind  him,  in  the  hands  of  the 
third  person  in  the  Godhead  —  the  Holy  Ghost;  to  vindicate 
and  sustain  all  its  claims;  and  to  sanctify,  and  recover  from 
the  ruins  of  apostacy,  all  the  eternally  chosen  of  God;  and 
finally,  bring  them  home  to  heaven.  Claim,  had  previous- 
ly, been  laid  by  Christianity  to  the  entire  earth  ;  and  she 
soon,  indeed,  after  the  assent  of  her  Author,  obtained  such 
a  hold  here  upon  the  minds,  hearts,  and  consciences  of  men, 
as  to  furnish  evidence,  conclusive,  that  she  will  support 
that  claim.  The  Apostles  went  forth,  and  proclaimed  the 
"Glad  tidings;"  and  a  signal  triumph,  marked  their  pro- 
gress, in  a  greater,  or  less  degree,  in  every  direction.  Com- 
munities of  believers,  or  churches,  were  soon  formed  and 
multiplied;  and  to  such  an  extent  that  the  "prince  of  the 
power  of  the  air,"  and  his  allies,  here  upon  earth,  were 
soon  gathered  together,  to  take  counsel  how  they  should 
best  operate,  to  prevent  the  success  of  the  Gospel.  To 
come  at  the  best  clew,  which  history  affords  us,  of  the 
course,  they  at  this  time,  adopted,  in  order  to  circumvent, 
and  paralize  Christianity;  we  must  here,  pause  a  little,  and 
take  a  look  at  the  state  of  the  most  enlightened  nations,  at 
the  period  referred  to,  for  a  few  centuries,  which  now  im- 
mediately succeded.  Though  we  may  here  state,  that  the 
first  effort,  of  Satan  and  his  allies,  to  oppose  and  paralize 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          233 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

Christianity,  was  made  to  corrupt  and  ruin  the  church,  by 
introducing  errors  and  heretical  sentiments ;  which,  indeed, 
after  a  short  time  only,  had  elapsed,  did  break  up  and  de- 
stroy those  churches,  which  had,  under  God,  been  planted 
by  the  Apostles.  * 

The  civil  history,  of  the  most  enlightened  nations,  at  the 
time  referred  to,  may  here  be  given,  in  a  few  words,  "  the 
whole  world,"  was  becoming  rapidly,  the  slave  of  proud, 
imperial,  gigantic  Rome.  The  story  of  the  origin  of  Rome, 
might  produce  a  smile  —  but  the  story  of  its  rapid  and  ex- 
tended power,  under  the  inscrutable  providence  of  God, 
strikes  us  with  profound  astonishment;  and  whose  fate, 
indeed,  furnishes  the  next  great  event,  in  the  convulsions 
recorded,  in  the  history  of  man. 

For,  behold  her,  in  the  day  of  her  greatness,  rising  up 
in  her  beauty  and  strength  —  the  pride  of  the  world  —  or 
rather  in  herself,  the  whole  world !  Watch  her,  as  she 
emerges  from  the  dark  regions  of  fiction  —  gathering 
strength,  and  elegance,  as  she  advances;  till  she  stands 
forth,  in  her  bold  and  august  reality !  Yes,  behold  that 
splendid  city,  upon  its  seven  beautiful  and  resplendent 
hills;  with  its  rich  dwellings  —  its  extended  and  eloquent 
forum  —  its  noble  temples;  the  loved  habitation  of  the  mu- 
ses —  the  home  of  architecture  —  of  sculpture,  and  of  paint- 
ing. Yes,  behold  her,  towering  away,  amid  all  this  her 
glory ;  her  boundless  empire,  and  magnificence !  Go  abroad 
with  her,  as  she  traversed  the  earth,  with  the  sword  in  one 
hand,  and  the  sceptre  in  the  other;  beating  down  and  over- 
turning every  obstacle  in  her  Way;  overthrowing  and  sub- 
jugating every  people,  and  nation,  that  opposed  her ;  and 
with  unparalleled  arrogance,  inscribing  her  name,  in  "gold- 
en capitals,"  on  the  :'  front  gate,"  of  every  city  throughout 
the  world!  Go  with  her,  in  short,  through  the  East  and 
the  West,  the  North  and  the  South,  until  the  grand  object 
of  her  ambition  is  accomplished;  till  you  stand,  with  her, 
on  the  summit  of  that  mountain  elevation,  where,  the  Ro- 


234          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,' 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

man  empire  encompasses  the  known  world ;  where  the  civ- 
ilize4  portion,  as  well  as  the  barbarous,  of  the  entire  human 
family,  appear  to  be  the  subjects  of  her  emperor !  How 
exalted  her  situation?  how  amazingly  rapid  her  progress? 
Oh,  how  stupendous,  and  ffcarful  her  power  ?  A  Day  —  an 
hour,  passed  on!  But  look  again!  Alas,  fair  Rome!  that 
bright  day,  was  thy  last ! 

And  can  it  be  that  the  scene  before  us,  is  real?  Have 
we  not  been  —  and  are  we  not  still,  deluded  by  some  visions 
of  magic?  No !  That  "  noble  city,"  is  in  ruins !  The  en- 
tire empire,  has  vanished  —  and  the  last  ray  of  its  glory, 
long  since,  departed  !  What  a  sudden  transition,  here? 
What  an  awful  change  !  Rome;  with  all  her  beauty,  mag- 
nificence, power,  and  sublimity,  has  fallen,  to  rise  no  more ! 
Yes,  the  splendid  scene  which  we  just  now  gazed  on  with 
such  delight,  has  faded !  and  nought,  but  one,  dark,  blank 
void,  seems  to  frown,  sullenly,  upon  our  view.  Is  it  not, 
we  might  ask  again,  reader,  were  we  not  Christians,  in  an 
agony  of  wonder — is  it  not  all  a  deceptive  vision?  is  it  not 
all  the  effect  of  some  mighty  magic?  No!  it  is  not  a  vis- 
ion—  it  is  a  sober  reality.  Another  great,  revolutionary 
convulsion,  has  come  over  the  affairs  of  man;  and  the  only 
magic  which  wrought  it  out,  is  the  same  that  wrought  out 
all  others;  viz:  the  eternal,  immortal  principle,  and  ten- 
dency in  the  human  race,  implanted  by  God,  to  mental 
and  moral  improvement,  and  elevation  to  entire  liberty; 
as  in  the  language  of  the  Apostle,  "  to  be  delivered  from 
the  bondage  of  corruption,  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
children  of  God." 

We  have  then,  in  this  revolution,  the  second  great  event, 
in  the  series,  which  we  have  spoken  of,  connected  with 
the  past,  and  operating  upon  the  future ;  and.  it  is  as  such, 
that  we  would,  for  a  few  moments,  now,  dwell  upon  its 
leading  features.  It  would  carry  us,  too  far  from  our  main 
purpose,  to  trace  the  many  circumstances,  which  under 
God,  made  Rome  the  prey  of  those  who  finally  subdued 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          236 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

her.  We  know  that  the  ancient  republican  spirit,  with  its 
love  of  Iib3rty,  its  heroism,  and  its  manly  enterprize ;  had 
long  ere  her  overthrow,  departed;  that  the  aristocracy, 
with  its  wealth  and  influence,  had  had  its  day;  and  that 
now,  the  dark  days  of  its  emperors  had  come.  Rome,  ever 
dissatisfied  with  her  present  power —  and  with  an  eye  ever 
bent  on  some  new  conquest,  had  been  constantly  struggling 
to  make  her  name  synonymous  with  the  world.  But  as 
her  territory  extended,  her  strength  diminished.  The  spirit 
that  should  have  accompanied  her  in  her  conquests,  had 
gone ;  and  now,  every  step  she  took,  was  but  to  her  ruin. 
The  portentious  cloud  that  was  rising  in  the  North,  she 
saw  not;  or,  if  she  did,  she  disregarded  it.  The  march  of 
her  power,  seemed  to  her,  yet  strong  and  vigorous.  But, 
nevertheless,  at  length,  at  the  moment  of  God's  appoint- 
ment, the  evil  hour  came.  The  cloud  that  had  been  grad- 
ually rising  and  thickening,  now  broke  upon  her  —  and  all 
her  boasted  power  and  glory,  become  as  though  they  had 
never  been.  The  revolution  was  total !  Like  the  moun- 
tain torrent,  the  barbarians  of  the  North  came  down  upon 
her,  and  she  fell !  True,  it  was  barbarism  opposed  to  civ- 
ilization —  but  it  was  also,  the  vigor  of  nature,  contending 
with  weakness,  the  imbecility,  of  refinement.  It  was  un- 
tutored valor,  struggling  with  polished  cowardice;  and  it 
conquered  —  completely  conquered ! 

On  the  ruins  of  the  splendid  temple,  now,  shortly  stood 
the  hut  of  the  savage ;  and,  in  the  place  of  the  polished 
and  the  once  noble  Roman,  now  stalked  the  Ostragoth,  the 
Visigoth,  and  the  Saxon.  Yes,  these  are  the  men,  who, 
under  God,  as  it  were,  overturned  the  world ;  and  such, 
briefly,  are  the  circumstances  under  which  they  did  it. 
Standing,  then,  upon  the  ruins  of  Rome,  thus  overrun  by 
barbarians,  is  its  whole  story  told,  when  we  say,  that  it 
rose  and  that  it  fell?  Was  the  purpose  of  this  great  revo- 
lution, fulfilled  completely,  when  the  beauty  of  the  city, 
and  the  power  of  the  empire,  had  vanished  under  its  influ- 


236          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

ence?     Tell  us,  was  Rome  built  up,  merely  that  it  might 
be  pulled  down  ?    Ah  !  we  have  said,  there  was  a  link 
which  connected  great  events ;  and  we  clearly  trace  it  in 
this.     The  Christian  revolution,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
though  its  convulsion  and  struggle  were  over,  yet  had  left 
its  influence  and  energy  still  operating  behind  it.     This  did 
not,  indeed,  plant  the  seeds  of  freedom  and  improvement; 
for  this  had  been  done  by  God's  own  hand,  when  he  created 
man.     But  the  Christian  revolution  infused  into  them  anew, 
the  spirit  of  vitality.      It  bade  them  germinate,  expand, 
grow  up.  and  bear  fruit.     But  the  work  of  cultivation  and 
nurture,  it  left  to  man;  proffering  him,  at  the  same  time, 
all  needed  assistance.     But  how  unfit,  how  totally  unfit, 
for  this  great  purpose,  were  the  Romans,  who  then  occu- 
pied the  civilized  earth  ;  the  manner  and  character  of  their 
overthrow,  most  plainly  illustrates.     There  never  has  been 
a  character  more  manly  and  high-minded,  without  evan- 
gelical religion,  than  was  that  of  the  Roman,  in  the  day  of 
his  glory ;  and  there  never  has  been  one  more  mean   and 
degraded  —  more  unfit  to  carry  on  the  great  cause  of  im- 
provement, than  that  of  the  same  being  in  his  last  moments. 
We  may  lament  the  fact —  we  do  lament  it;  but  yet,  it  is 
true ;.  that  this  once  noble  race,  had  become  so  degenerate, 
that  the  safety  of  mankind,  the  continuance  of  the  race, 
was  inconsistent  with  their  existence;  and,  because  it  was 
so,  they  were  swept  away  by  God,  their  Maker,  in  the  man- 
ner we  have  seen.     In  their  place,  now  came  up  those,  who, 
under  God,  though  ignorant  and  barbarous,  were  yet  com- 
posed of  pure  native  materials ;  out  of  which  great  things 
were  to  be  wrought.     The  degeneracy  of  the  Roman  citi- 
zens, had  been  naturally  followed  by  the  degeneracy  of  all 
their  institutions.     Government,  had  become  a  rotten  tyran- 
ny, (as  our  own  may,  in  a  brief  period)  destructive  alike 
to  the  oppressor  and  the  oppressed.     The  throne  of  the  em- 
peror, exalted  as  it  was,  was  not  more  so  in  its  power,  than 
in  its  detestable  and  despotic   principles.      The  state  of 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          237 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

things,  as  then  existing,  was  the  result  of  that  refinement, 
so  called  —  we  say,  unlimited  licentiousness;  which  had 
been  refining,  and  corrupting  the  world,  till  it  was  refined 
to  nothing  in  Rome,  but  the  living  image  of  moral  death 
and  putrefaction.  There  was  no  soundness  —  no  founda- 
tion left  to  build  upon.  Their  institutions,  therefore,  were 
swept  away,  with  the  people  among  whom,  and  by  whose 
agency  they  had  been  established.  And  now,  upon  their 
ruins,  arose  the  Feudal  system,  whose  simplicity  and  ener- 
gy, were  characteristic  of  those  who  brought  it  forward ; 
and  in  whose  strong  embrace,  these  strange  conquerors 
were  to  be  upheld  and  bound  together. 

As  we  now  stand  then,  upon  the  spot,  where  Rome  once 
stood ;  a  melaneholy  ruin,  is  not  all  that  meets  our  view. 
The  thought  of  desolation,  is  not  the  only  one  that  rises 
upon  our  mind.  Rome  —  and  all  that  was  Rome,  have, 
indeed,  passed  away ;  but  it  was  to  make  room  for  better 
men,  and  better  things  —  better,  especially,  in  tha*view, 
which  we  would  take  of  all  great  events ;  better  for  the  in- 
terest of  the  human  race.  And  in  this  view,  has  not  this 
event  an  intimate  connexion  with  the  human  race?  Does 
it  not  clearly  reach  even  to  us,  of  the  present  day?  The 
blood  of  those  very  men,  whom  we^have  just  met  in  the 
ruins  of  Rome,  now  runs  in  our  veins.  Their  history  is 
the  history  of  all  Europe.  Its  inhabitants  have  been  their 
descendants.  We,  ourselves,  are  their  descendants  —  bone 
of  their  bone,  and  flesh  of  their  flesh.  As  long,  therefore, 
as  there  is  a  tie  that  binds  an  ancestor  to  his  posterity —  as 
long  as  there  is  a  relation  between  a  father  and  son  —  so 
long  is  there  a  connexion  between  that  event  and  us.  But 
it  stops  not  here.  It  rests  not  with  the  individuals. 

The  Feudal  system,  as  we  have  seen,  originated  with 
these  men.  And  who  shall  appreciate  the  influence  which 
this  system  has  had  upon  all  succeding  times  ;  and  is  even 
at  this  moment  exerting?  It  would  be  interesting,  to  trace 
the  minute  features  of  this  institution  —  its  origin,  and  pro- 


238          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

gress;  and  to  watch  its  operations  upon  subsequent  sys- 
tems. We  can,  however,  but  glance  at  it.  Its  origin  was 
singular.  It  was  not  an  institution  that  sprung  up  in  the 
gradual  development  of  mental  improvement,  and  politi- 
cal knowledge.  It  was  not  an  institution  which  statesmen 
and  philosophers  might  claim  as  the  result  of  their  efforts 
to  enlighten  mankind.  But,  on  the  contrary  —  like  the 
forest-oak,  it  started  up,  as  it  were,  the  offspring  of  nature. 
It  originated  without  previous  design,  or  cultivation.  It 
grew  without  artificial  political  wisdom,  for  support.  And 
though  it  extended  its  branches  over  man ;  yet  it  was  over 
man,  ignorant,  barbarous  —  but  free.  Its  principles  were 
energetic  and  binding.  They  were  precisely  adapted  to  the 
age,  and  circumstances  which  called  them  forth.  They 
were  fit  guardians  for  the  infancy  of  men;  who,  instead  of 
growing  up  in  power,  in  the  self-same  spot,  where  they  had 
been  planted  in  weakness;  come  down  from  their  native 
mount&ns,  and  broke  in  upon  a  people,  who  were  centuries 
before  them,  in  what  gives  a  nation  the  character  of  refine- 
ment. JNor  was  the  influence  of  the  feudal  system,  con- 
fined to  the  infancy  of  those  who  established  it.  In  their 
slow  progress  afterwards,  from  infancy  to  manhood,  it  was 
uniting  and  sustaining  them.  By  its  energy  alone,  they 
were  sustained  through  all  the  dark  ages.  The  dawn  that 
succeeded,  did,  indeed,  reveal  better  guides,  and  more  .re- 
fined institutions;  but  the  principles  of  this  system,  have 
never  all  been  done  away.  Even  at  the  present  day,  the 
study  of  these  principles,  is  considered  essential  to  the 
thorough  understanding  of  our  own  system  of  law. 

We  will  here  go  back,  again,  for  a  moment,  to  the  ruins 
of  Rome  —  and  how  different  now,  is  the  view  before  us, 
from  that  which  first  met  our  eyes?  How  is  the  mystery 
cleared  up ;  how  does  light  shine  out  of  darkness ;  We  re- 
peat the  sentiment — a  melancholy  ruin,  is  not  all  that 
meets  our  view.  We  behold  a  manly  and  independent  race 
of  men,  the  materials  of  subsequent  generations ;  our  own 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  239 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

direct  ancestors.  We  behold  a  system  of  government 
springing  up,  adapted  to  the  age ;  holding  together  in  its 
embrace,  those  interests  of  humanity,  which,  under  the  in- 
stitutions that  it  superseded,  would  have  been  unfriended 
and  deserted ;  and  by  the  energy  of  its  principles  under 
God,  in  some  measure,  survivmg  until  now.  The  gloom 
then,  that  come  over  us,  has  passed  away.  The  idea  of 
destruction  is  lost,  in  the  greater  and  more  interesting  one, 
of  improvement.  It  is  in  these  men,  and  this  institution, 
that  we  see  the  result  of  the  overthrow  of  Rome.  Yes 
more  —  it  is  by  the  subsequent,  and  unceasing  operation  of 
this  result;  through  the  influence  that  it  has  exerted  upon 
succeeding  times,  that  we  are  led  to  connect  the  great  event 
which  produced  it,  with  ourselves. 

As  the  votaries  of  science  —  the  friends  of  literature  — 
the  lovers  of  the  arts,  we  may  weep  over  the  fall  of  that 
once  mighty,  beautiful  and  magnificent  empire.  We  may 
lament  that  she  could  not  ha  ye  .been  spared,  to  continue  the 
ornament,  and  the  pride  of  creation,  as  she  once  was.  But 
there  is  a  higher  view,  and  a  nobler  sympathy,  which 
should  rise  up,  to  fill  the  eye  and  the  heart.  It  is  that 
which  takes  in,  and  embraces  the  great  interest  of  man,  as 
exhibited  by  our  Apostle.  Rome  has  fallen,  and  we  sigh. 
But  look  again  —  Rome  has  fallen,  it  is  true  —  but  the 
World,  is  comparatively  free.  Her  fall,  was  one  great  and 
magnificent  advance  of  the  cause,  of  intellectual  and  moral 
liberty  ! 

But  again,  the  tide  rolls  on.  The  new  inhabitants  of  the 
earth,  as  they  may,  more  than  figureatively  be  called,  had 
peopled  the  plains  which  they  first  overspread  with  ruins ; 
and  under  the  influence  of  the  system  we  have  noticed, 
they  had  carried  on  the  great  chain  of  history,  a  few  cen- 
turies farther.  They  had  become  a  great,  a  wide-spreading 
people.  By  the  vigor  of  their  own  character,  and  that  of 
their  government,  they  had  emerged  in  safety  from  the 
dark  ages,  without  any  great  convulsions;  and  by  the 


240          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

guidance  of  the  dawning  light,  cheerful,  inspiriting,  yes, 
glorious,  as  contrasted  with  the  gloom  which  it  dispelled, 
they  were  advancing  with  more  direct  and  rapid  strides  in 
their  march  of  improvement.  England  had,  indeed,  also 
already  been  the  scene,  £  a  few  changes,  small,  it  is 
true,  compared  with  those  we  have  contemplated;  but 
yet,  they  in  some  measure,  affected  subsequent  events. 
England  —  and  as  we  mention  her  name  in  this  connexion, 
and  at  this  point  of  time,  we  cannot  but  pause,  and  look 
upon  her,  for  a  moment.  If  there  is  a  tie  which  connects 
together,  and  spreads  round  the  influence  of  great  events, 
how  conspicuous,  how  important  is  the  name  of  England  ! 
If  there  is  any  truth  in  the  comprehensive  view  which  we 
have  taken  of  man,  how»does  the  name  of  England  shine 
forth  in  this  history  of  the  human  race !  From  the 
eleventh  century  to  the  seventeenth,  her  history  is  the 
key-stone  of  all  history.  Her  name  is  associated  with 
every  great  event,  which  interested  the  great  cause  of 
man.  The  march  of  religion,  of  liberty,  and  of  improve- 
ment, was,  during  this  period,  over  the  soil  of  England ; 
and  it  was  from  her  borders,  that  there  went  out  the  influ- 
ence which,  under  God,  was  eventually  to  elevate  and  en- 
noble the  world.  Yes,  if  we  would  study  the  history  of 
man,  farther ;  if  we  would  watch  his  footsteps  on  the  way 
to  what  he  is,  —  England,  and  her  history,  are  the  princi- 
pal subjects  for  our  observation.  Her  soil  was  the  great 
battle-field  —  the  only  home  of  comparative  freedom  —  till 
some  of  her  own  high-minded  children,  found  another  and 
a  better,  in  this  western  world.  Honor,  therefore,  and 
praise  be  to  England,  and  her  children,  for  what  they  have 
accomplished  for  man,  and  for  the  most  important  temporal 
interests  of  the  race.  Proud,  indeed,  in  that  view  of  it, 
are  the  recollections  of  this  land;  and  happy  are  we,  that 
it  was  the  home  of  our  fathers. 

But  we  return  to  the  order  of  time.     England,  in  which, 
as  we  have  said,  from  the  tenth  century,  the  interest  of 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          241 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

history,  in  the  view  we  have  taken  of  it,  is  concentrated  — 
had  been  even  before  this,  the  scene  of  a  few  changes ; 
which,  in  some  measure,  operated  upon  subsequent  events. 
The  Briton  had  been  subjugated  by  the  Roman.  The  Ro- 
man, however,  had  voluntarily  withdrawn  himself — but 
it  was  only  to  make  way  for  the  Saxon ;  who,  having  been 
first  solicited  as  an  ally,  had  rushed  in,  and  become  master. 
But  even  he,  was  not  destined  to  remain  the  sole  possessor 
of  the  land.  Another  change  was  to  be  made,  which  should 
give,  and  did  give,  an  impulse  to  the  people,  whom  it  con- 
cerned. We  refer,  of  course,  to  the  Norman  conquest. 
This,  indeed,  can  scarcely  be  denominated  a  revolution,  in 
the  sense  in  which  we  have  used  that  term.  It  originated 
not  in  any  great  national  convulsion.  It  evolved  no  strik- 
ing result,  like  that  of  the  overthrow  of  Rome.  It  was 
rather  a  contest  for  a  disputed  throne,  —  a  struggle  wheth- 
er William,  or  Harold,  should  reign,  king  of  England. 
True,  in  its  event,  it  was  a  change,  and  one  that  deserves 
to  be  mentioned  in  the  series  of  events,  as  beneficial  to  the 
progress  oftman.  It  is  from  this  event,  that  the  history  of 
England,  and  history  in  general,  takes  a  more  general  and 
clearly  connected  form.  Its  result  was  very  important.  It 
was  so,  in  the  mingling  together  of  the  Saxons  and  the 
Normans,  which  it  brought  to  pass  —  and  in  the  formation, 
thereby,  of  a  race  of  men,  which  has  had  no  superior  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth.  It  was  important  too,  as  it  placed  a 
man,  like  William  the  Conqueror,  upon  the  throne  of  a 
kingdom ;  by  which  so  much,  and  such  great  things,  were 
to  be  accomplished. 

In  the  progress  of  man,  as  we  have  thus  far  traced  it, 
and  as  it  displayed  itself  for  a  few  centuries  beyond  this, 
unmarked  by  any  great  event;  the  way  was  preparing, 
gradually,  and  almost  imperceptibly,  under  God,  for  another 
convulsionary  revolution;  second  only  to  that,  by  which 
Christianity  was  introduced.  We  have  already  gone  back 
to  the  period,  when  this  instrument  was  set  at  work.  We 
16 


242  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

have  spoken  of  its  great  purpose;  and  we  left  it,  struggling 
to  gain  the  ascendency  in  the  world.  Fifteen  centuries, 
had  now  passed  away,  since  that  great  event ;  and  many 
struggles  of  the  race,  though  resulting  in  no  marked  bene- 
fit, had  been  here  and  there  witnessed.  But  where,  during 
all  this  intervening  period,  was  Christianity?  Where  was 
that  influence  which  at  first  seemed  to  us  Omnipotent? 
Man  has,  indeed,  been  perad venture,  in  a  v^ry  limited  de- 
gree, improved  ;  his  condition  ameliorated  —  but  how  very 
little,  compared  with  what  we  expected  Christianity  would 
do  for  him.  Where,  we  ask  again  ;  during  these  fifteen 
centuries,  was  Christianity?  What  has  palsied  its  arm  — 
resisted  its  progress,  impaired  its  energy?  Can  it  be  that 
the  experiment  has  failed?  Has  that  mighty  agent,  proved 
faithless  to  its  trust?  We  thought,  that  when  it  came, 
darkness  and  ignorance  and  tyranny,  were  to  flee  away 
from 'its  presence  —  that,  at  its  sovereign  mandate,  all 
chains  were  to  drop  off;  and  that  man  would  rise  up,  ex- 
ulting in  the  joyous  feelings  of  conscious  liberty ;  and  reach 
at  once,  the  high  point  of  his  destination.  W«  imagined 
that  the  light  of  Christianity  was  at  once  to  spread  abroad 

—  that  its  course  was  to  be  one  blazing,  undimmed  track  — 
that  it  was  speedily  to  be  glorified ;  and  with  itself  was  to 
glorify  the  human  race.     But  how  different  the  fact.     Dur- 
ing fifteen  centuries,  Christianity  had,  indeed,  been  in  the 
world;    but  where  had   been  her  habitation?     What  her 
condition?     Go  back  with  her,  through  those  darkest  of  all 
dark  ages  —  the  ages  of  religious  fanaticism  and  persecu- 
tion.    Watch  her  as  she  lay  trembling  at  the  feet  of  that 
worst  of  all  satanic  tyrannies;  the  tyranny  of  priestcraft 
and  superstition.     Turn  your  eye,  here,  and  behold  yon 
stately  edifice,  piled  up  in  a  profusion  of  magnificence,  that 
distinguishes  it  from  all  about  it !     Behold  its  vast  extent 

—  its  solemn  granduer — its  wide  domain!     Surely   it  is 
the  abode  of  power  —  of  splendor — of  some  great  one  — 
perhaps  the  greatest  one  of  earth !     The  palaces  of  kings, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          243 

TO  DIVERSE,    NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

cannot  compare  with  it  —  emperors,  dwell  not  in  such  no- 
ble edifices  !  It  is  indeed,  the  abode  of  the  greatest  one  of 
earth.  It  is  the  prison-house  of  Christianity  I  Yes,  here 
in  thick  darkness,  has  this  "  Light  of  the  world," — this 
pioneer  of  heaven-descended  freedom,  been  confined  for 
fifteen  centuries!  Her  bitter  foes,  have  torn  off  her  gar- 
ment of  light,  and  arrayed  her  in  sackcloth.  The  cheerful 
and  animating  sound  of  her  voice,  they  have  stifled.  The 
arm  which  she  reached  out  to  man,  they  have  bound  down. 
Her  sacred  books,  they  have  sealed  up  —  and  secure  in  the 
oblivion  to  which  they  think  she  is  consigned;  they  have 
'gone  forth,  to  pollute,  and  tyrannize,  over,  what  she  came, 
to  purify,  and  make  free!  Yes,  this  was  the  habitation, 
and  such  was  the  condition  of  Christianity,  for  fifteen  cen- 
turies. 

The  other  tyrannies  under  which  men  have  groaned,  and 
been  crushed,  are  poor;  they  are  nothing,  in  comparison 
with  that  over  which  the  banner  of  religion  floated,  as  its 
ensign  and  authority !  But  was  there  to  be  no  end  to  all 
this  ?  Was  man  forever  to  be  thus  cheated  of  the  benefits 
of  Christianity?  Was  her  imprisonment  to  be  intermina- 
ble 1  Were  her  dungeon-doors  never  to  be  dashed  asunder  ? 
Thanks,  again,  be  to  God,  that  it  was  not  so.  The  six- 
teenth century  began  to  dawn  —  a  century  ever  memorable 
for  the  great  convulsion  by  which  it  has  been  immortalized. 
Another  deliverer  of  man,  was  now  raised  up.  Another 
struggle,  in  aid  of  his  great  cause,  was  at  hand.  That  de- 
liverer was  MARTIN  LUTHER;  and  that  convulsion  was  what 
has  been  called  the  reformation.  The  progress  of  time, 
then,  has  brought  us  to  another  great  event  in  the  history 
of  man  —  the  reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century  —  an 
event,  in  its  universal  interest,  and  wide-spread  influence, 
second  only  to  that  by  which  Christianity  was  introduced. 
We  would  speak  of  it,  therefore,  for  a  few  minutes,  under 
the  same  view,  in  which  we  have  spoken  of  those  which 
preceded  it.  If  the  great  purpose  which  we  have  assigned 


244          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

to  Christianity  —  the  improvement  and  freedom  of  man, 
even  on  earth,  and  to  give  him  a  true  knowledge  of  the 
character  and  will  of  God,  and  of  man's  own  eternal  good, 
was  its  true  and  primary  purpose  —  and  who,  in  our  day, 
will  doubt  it  7  —  how  does  this  great  struggle,  which  achiev- 
ed its  reform,  harmonize  with  the  great  view  which  we 
have  taken  of  the  human  race?    How  does  its  history  fur- 
nish another,  a  bright  and  striking  proof,  that  great  events 
belong  to  mankind;  and  that  they  all,  in  their  order,  have 
been  leading  on  to  the  same  result?     The  minute  causes  of 
this  convulsion,  it  is  neither  within  our  limits,  nor  neces- 
sary to  our  purpose,  to  describe.     The  review  which  we 
have  taken  of  the  previous  history  of  man,  and  of  the 
leading,  features  which  have  marked  its  character,  opens  to 
our  view  the  great  operating  cause  of  this  event.     That 
review  has  displayed  to  us,  the  slow,  yet  constant  advance 
of  man,  under  the  providence  of  God,  while  Christianity 
had  been  fettered  and  locked  up.     It  is  easy  to  perceive  the 
natural  result  of  these  circumstances.      As  man  became 
more  and  more  enlightened ;  as  he  felt  the  movement  of  his 
spirit  within  him,  stronger,  towards  improvement ;  and  as 
he  grasped  the  more  earnestly,  at  everything  which  would 
help  him  forward  in  his  course;  the  enemies  of  the  cause, 
would  strive,  of  course,  to  rivet  closer  the  fetters  in  which 
they  had  bound  him;  and  to  shut  out  more  completely,  the 
light  that  would  show  him  what  he  was.     And  this  was 
what  they  did.     The  history  of  Christianity  has  shown  it 
—  for  Christianity  perverted,  as  we  have  seen  it,  was  the 
great  weapon  which  they  have  wielded.     But  though  the 
struggle  between  them,  might  be  long,  it  was  yet  certain 
that  it  must  have  an  end ;  that  victory  must  declare  itself 
in  favor- of  one  or  the  other;  that  those  who  had  laid  hold 
of,  and  converted  to  their  degrading  purpose,  the  great  en- 
gine of  freedom  —  Christianity,  would  either  prevail  in  the 
contest,  and  thereby  put  an  end  to  the  hope  of  man ;  or 
else,  that  man,  spurred  on  by  the  Divine  impulse,  in  the 


'THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"  246 

TO    DIVERSE,    NOTABLE   FOOLS    AND   ASSES. 

last  great  struggle,  would  rise  above  his  oppressors,  wrest 
from  their  grasp  the  weapon  of  his  safety,  and,  secure  in 
its  strength,  march  forward  in  triumph.  The  latter  was  the 
result.  Under  God,  man  was  the  conqueror  —  the  refor- 
mation was  the  victory.  We  know,  indeed,  that  other  and 
minuter  causes  were  in  operation,  to  bring  about  this  re- 
sult; but  we  are  permitted  to  rejoice  in  the  fact,  that  God 
made  them  all  subservient  to  the  irresistable  tendency 
which  he  placed  in  the  human  race,  to  perfect  liberty. 

It  is,  however,  in  the  influence  which  the  reformation 
has  exerted,  that  we  trace,  most  clearly,  that  it  belongs  to 
man,  and  to  the  world.  Where  has  that  influence  stopped? 
What  time,  or  place,  or  boundaries,  have  limited  it?  To 
what  place,  or  age,  does  it  exclusively  belong?  All  sub- 
sequent history  responds,  that  it  has  found  no  limit,  and 
that  it  never  will.  The  reformation  of  Christianity,  was 
the  restoration  of  man  to  mental  and  moral  liberty  —  to 
himself.  It  taught  him  that  he  was  capable  of  free  thought, 
and  of  unrestrained  action ;  that  he  had  the  guarantee  of 
Almighty  God,  that  he  should  enjoy  these,  securely  ;  and 
that  in  these,  were  his  happiness,  his  true  power,  and  only 
safety.  The  struggle  which  it  caused  him,  gave  a  nerve 
to  his  arm  ;  the  result  with  which  it  blessed  him,  gave  a 
courage  to  his  heart,  which,  under  God,  has  hastened 
him  forward  to  that  which  he  now  is.  We  can  trace  its 
great  principles,  animating  and  governing  all  succeeding 
events,  and  giving  a  character  of  improvement  to  all  sub- 
sequent history.  But  we  need  not  enlarge  upon  this  topic. 
The  principles  of  our  own  conyulsionary  revolution;  and 
the  causes  which  gave  it  being,  are  too  nearly  allied  to 
those  of  the  reformation,  to  need  an  argument  to  connect 
them  together.  The  progress  of  man,  from  this  event,  is 
too  direct  and  plain,  to  leave  us  in  the  dark,  as  to  the  spirit 
that  animated  him;  where  it  originated;  or  how  it  oper- 
ated. Such,  therefore,  being  the  origin  and  results  of  the 
reformation,  it  takes  its  place — a  high  and  conspicuous 


246          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

place,  indeed,  in  the  midst  of  that  great  series  of  events, 
which  we  have  been  describing.  Yet,  great  as  it  is,  in  it- 
self, it  yet  gathers  interest  and  importance,  as  a  stupendous 
part  of  the  history  of  man;  and  as,  therefore,  being  one 
great  cause  of  our  own  free  institutions.  And  he,  too,  the 
immortal  Luther,  whose  daring  spirit,  and  invincible  firm- 
ness, first  lit  up  and  bore  the  torch  of  this  revolution  — 
whose  name  will  be  remembered  and  loaded  with  honor, 
while  Christianity  shall  endure  —  how  is  he  doubly  enno- 
bled, when,  in  the  universal  influence  of  this  revolution, 
we  can  hail  him  as  the  benefactor  of  the  human  race ! 
That  title  is  his  desert.  Under  God,  we  owe  our  present 
priviliges  to  him.  His  place  is  among  the  great  and  good 
of  earth,  whenever  and  wherever  they  may  have  lived  — 
high  in  the  pages  of  Christianity  —  in  the  annals  of  the 
world. 

The  immense  influence,  which  the  Reformation  thus 
exerted  upon  the  human  mind,  was  in  nothing  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  the  spirit  of  Inquiry,  which  it  awakened 
and  stimulated.  Now  roused,  as  it  were,  from  a  deep  leth- 
argy, men  began  to  look  around  upon  their  condition,  gen- 
erally; to  ascertain  its  wants;  and  to  devise  the  means,  by 
which  they  might,  most  readily  supply  them,  They  dis- 
covered, that  in  the  sacred  and  all-important  matter  of  their 
Religion,  they  had  been  wofnlly  trifled  with,  and  deceived 
by  their  oppressors.  They  discovered,  too,  by  the  result 
of  their  struggle,  the  animating  fact  —  a  fact  which  gave 
a  value  and  a  power  to  every  thing  else  —  that  they  were 
superior  to  their  oppressors;  that  the  force  which  had  kept 
them  down,  had  been  but  chicanery  ;  \ha.\,  truth,  was  mighty, 
and  as  it  had  prevailed  in  Religion,  would  also  prevail  in 
every  thing  else.  And  they  availed  themselves  of  this  dis- 
covery. We  can  hardly  estimate  too  highly  this  effect  of 
the  Reformation  ;  the  zeal  for  Investigation,  which  it  in- 
spired among  men  —  the  resolute  determination,  with  which 
it  filled  them  —  that  as  they  had  discovered  and  remedied 


"THINGS    NEW    'AND    OLD,"          247 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

oi\e  great  abuse,  they  would  search  out,  that  they  might 
remedy  every  other,  that  oppressed  them.  Yes,  we  say 
that  this  effect,  can  hardly  be  estimated  too  highly;  for  we 
believe  it  was  this,  which  gave  the  Reformation  its  greatest 
and  mostsalutary  influence,  upon  subsequent  events.  This 
spirit  of  inquiry,  thus  resulting,  became  itself,  also,  in  its 
turn,  a  powerful  instrument.  It  went  forth  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  set  itself  about  its  great  work  of  undermining  and 
overturning  the  old  order  of  things.  It  left  nothing  unex- 
amined.  In  prosecuting  its  design,  the  first  objects  which 
attracted  its  attention,  and  those,  to  which  it  applied  the 
severest  scrutiny,  were  the  principles,  and  institutions  of 
Government.  -And  it  was  this  spirit  of  inquiry,  thus  set  in 
motion  by  the  Reformation,  and  thus  directed  to  the  exam- 
ination and  improvement  of  Government,  which  brought 
about  the  next  great  Revolution,  which  will  naturally  fall 
under  our  notice. 

The  throne  of  England,  had  now  been 'filled,  for  six 
centuries,  by  a  succession  of  individuals,  whose  characters, 
as  far  as  they  are  material  to  our  purpose,  may  be  written 
in  a  few  lines.  All  of  them,  had  striven  after,  and  exer- 
cised absolute  power.  They  had  all  been  tyrants,  differing 
in  degree,  indeed,  but  this  only  as  they  differed  in  personal 
energy  and  ability.  The  great  principle  which  governed 
them  all,  was,  that  the  right  of  kings,  was  not  only,  divine 
in  its  origin,  but  unlimited  in  its  extent.  Believing  them- 
selves born  to  govern,  it  followed,  that  all  the  rest  of  men 
were  born  to  obey.  The  voice  of  the  king,  in  its  uncon- 
trolled majesty,  was  to  be  the  voice  of  God;  and  of  course, 
that  of  the  people,  was  to  be  stifled,  as  unhallowed.  Let 
it  be  remarked,  however,  that  we  say  this  of  these  kings, 
not,  entirely,  as  a  reproach.  There  is  much  in  the  circum- 
stances of  the  times  —  the  low  state  of  mankind,  as  to  their 
education,  and  knowledge,  at  this  period,  to  extenuate  their 
conduct.  Hut  this  was  the  uniform  character  of  govern- 
ment, down  to  the  Reformation  —  the  power  of  the  monarch 


248  "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR   EVANGELICAL   BONUS. 

supreme — that  of  the  people  comparatively  nothing.  And 
this  character  was  carried  out,  tp  its  extreme  perfection, 
by  that  model  of  all  tyrants,  Henry  the  eighth ;  when  the 
light  of  the  Reformation,  first  displayed  itself  to  man,  and 
when  the  boldness,  with  which  that  event  inspired  him, 
first  led  him  to  examine  its  features.  From  this  .moment, 
a  new  scene  of  things  appeared.  Instead  of  the  dead  calm 
of  submission,  there  was  now  a  movement  of  the  waters. 
Animated  by  the  influence,  which  now  began  to  operate 
upon  the  mind,  men  displayed  at  first,  a  sort  of  restlessness. 
In  their  periodical  assemblies,  which  before,  had  been  but 
matters  of  form,  called  to  give  a  kind  of  sanction  to  the 
proceedings  of  the  king;  and  to  vote  him  the  money,  that 
he  would  have  wrested  from  them  had  they  refused  to  grant 
it,  and  dismissed  when  his  sovereign  power  had  exacted 
from  them  what  he  wanted  —  and  his  sovereign  pleasure 
resolved  that  they  had  sat  long  enough ;  yes,  in  these  peri- 
odical assemblies,  thus  a  burlesque  upon  free  debate,  a 
mockery  of  all  real  liberty,  the  spirit  of  Inquiry,  made  its 
first  feeble  efforts.  The  eternal  cry  of  "prerogative"  to 
which  men  had  so  long  listened,  as  to  something  harmless, 
and  sacred;  began  to  have  a  startling  sound  in  their  ears. 
They  wondered  what  it  meant.  The  old  charters  were 
now  dug  up,  and  examined;  and  studied,  in  reference  to 
this  point,  of  "prerogative"  New  and  strange  ideas  be- 
gan to  be  broached.  Men  inquired,  in  their  minds,  whether 
they  who  were  most  interested  in  the  operation  of  any 
measure,  had  not  a  right  to  be  heard,  in  regard  to  it? 
whether  they  who  had  earned,  and  possessed,  and  were  to 
pay  their  money,  ought  not  to  be  consulted  in  relation  to  its 
disposition?  It  began  to  be  a  serious  question,  for  whose 
benefit  "Government"  was  established?  whether  for  the 
single  individual,  on  whose  head,  inscrutable  providential 
birth,  had  placed  the  crown  of  power;  or  for  the  thousands, 
and  millions,  whom  the  same  inscrutable  providence  had 
excluded  from  the  throne  ? 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"          249 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

In  a  word,  the  idea  of  his  own  importance,  and  of  his 
own  power,  under  God,  was  dawning  upon  the  mind  of 
every  man,  in  a  solemn,  and  animating  manner !  True,  it 
was  but  a  thought,  at  first  —  a  thought,  which  they  who 
harbored,  could  scarcely  comprehend;  and  dared  not  utter. 
But  it  spread ;  for  the  cause  that  was  operating  was  in- 
creasing in  strength.  Similarity  of  feeling  brought  men 
together  —  where  they  whispered  to  each  other  these  high 
thoughts;  and  they  were  surprised  to  find,  that  they  were 
not  alone.  We  need  not  detail  the  rest;  it  suffices  to  say, 
these  hitherto  bosom  thoughts,  soon  ripened,  under  God, 
into  united  and  successsful  action.  Thus,  emboldened  by 
a  common  sentiment  —  urged  on  by  a  common  cause,  men 
gathered  into  one  great  phalanx,  strong,  resolute,  irresista- 
ble;  and  guided  by  this  principle  of  free  thought  and  in- 
quiry, widely  and  more  widely,  extended ;  they  have  moved 
onward  freely,  and  directly,  to  the  present  day.  But  though 
freely,  and  directly;  their  course  has  not  been  altogether 
unobstructed.  Another  storm  was  yet  to  be  encountered. 
What  we  have  seen  of  man's  history,  as  he  advanced  to 
the  great  reform  of  Religion,  is  literally  true  of  his  progress 
in  the  reformation  of  government.  The  natural  tendency 
of  the  principles  which  he  began  to  apply  to  the  investiga- 
tion of  government;  was  to  display  to  him,  in  its  true  col- 
ours, the  enormous  tyranny,  which  he  had  endured,  under 
the  abused  name,  of  government!  He  discovered  that  he, 
whom  he  had  honored  as  his  king,  had  been  his  master,  and 
oppressor;  that  "prerogative"  was  "extortion;"  that  such 
power  was  "  despotism! "  And  a  determination  to  set  him- 
self free,  from  such  a  yoke,  was  coeval  with  the  discovery  ; 
and  his  subsequent  history,  is  but  a  solemn  and  thrilling 
narration  of  his  struggles  for  complete  emancipation.  But 
were  these  efforts  met  by  no  counter  ones?  Did  the  here- 
ditary, and  as  they  thought,  the  sacred  depositories  of  wis- 
dom, and  power,  stand  cool  spectators  of  the  destruction, 
which  the  principles  then  spreading  were  to  bring  upon 


250          "THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

their  thrones!  Did  the  self-imagined  legitimate,  divinely 
commissioned  rulers  of  mankind,  in  this  case,  part  with 
their  time-hallowed  sceptres,  without  a  struggle?  No; 
they  followed  the  example  of  their  great  king,  the  Pope. 
They  planted  themselves  upon  their  thrones,  armed  with 
every  weapon  which  sovereignty,  long  submitted  to,  could 
furnish;  and  bade  defiance  to  the  power,  that  would  dare 
touch  its  foundation.  The  spirit  of  liberty,  that  walked 
abroad,  was,  in  their  eyes  a  monster;  to  the  destruction  of 
which,  every  nerve  was  to  be  strained,  and  every  power 
exerted.  But  were  they  to  succeed  7  Was  the  great  tide 
of  improvement  and  freedom,  which  had  been  rolling  on, 
as  we  have  traced  it,  for  centuries,  and  which  had  just 
rolled  over  and  buried  the  palace  of  a  Pope,  to  be  stopped 
at  the  throne  of  a  king,  the  servant  of  a  Pope?  O!  how 
little  did  those  opposers  of  man,  comprehend  the  power, 
against  which,  they  were  struggling!  How  little  did 
they  understand  the  purpose  of  God  —  the  nature  of  man 
—  or  anticipate  the  consequences,  which,  in  a  single  centu- 
ry, would  be  the  result  of  man's  struggles  in  the  cause  of 
liberty ! 

The  power  and  agency  of  the  human  mind,  however  op- 
posed, under  the  influence  of  an  Omnipotent,  invisible 
hand,  still  regularly  advanced,  and  gained  strength. 
Henry  eighth,  whose  reign  is  connected  with  the  reforma- 
tion, only  as  the  light. of  the  latter,  serves  to  make  the 
darkness  of  the  former,  more  visible,  had  now  passed  off 
the  scene.  The  boy,  Edward  sixth;  the  weak,  bigoted, 
tyrannical  Mary;  the  great  and  singular  Elizabeth,  who 
seems  to  have  supported  the  absolute  power  of  the  throne, 
against  the  growing  strength  of  free  principles,  more  by 
the  sort  of  infatuation  which  she  inspired,  as  a  remarkable 
woman,  than  by  her  authority  as  a  queen;  and  last,  that 
profound  and  erudite  scholar,  James  first;  these  were  the 
persons  who,  for  the  century  succeding  the  reformation, 
had  filled  the  throne,  and  upheld  the  degrading  policy 


"THINGS    NEW     AND    OLD,"          251 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

against  which  the  efforts  of  man,  had,  during  the  same 
period,  been  constantly  and  with  increasing  zeal  and  power, 
directed.  The  two  great  parties,  though  they  had  repeat- 
edly clashed,  had  yet  forborne  an  encounter;  but  it  could 
be  forborne  no  longer.  A  time  of  collected  energy  had 
again  come  round,  like  that  of  the  reformation;  and  the 
great  question  of  li  liberty  or  slavery,"  was  again  to  be 
tried.  Charles  first,  whose  education  and  disposition  both 
led  him  to  carry  the  ideas  of  sovereignty  and  "preroga- 
tive" to  their  farthest  verge,  was  now  seated  upon  the 
throne:  and  in  him,  the  opposers  of  freedom,  were  to  make 
their  last  great  stand;  for  he  was,  indeed,  the  last  great 
bulwark  of  absolute  power.  True  to  his  purpose,  he  re- 
solved, that,  at  all  risks,  it  should  succeed.  But  freedom, 
who  had  hitherto  been  struggling,  most  manfully,  though 
with  doubtful  fortune,  was  not  left  unfriended,  in  this  hour 
of  danger.  A  Pym,  a  Coke,  a  Cromwell,  a  Hampden,  and 
other  such  men,  were  seen  and  numbered  in  her  ranks; 
and  in  them,  she  found  champions  every  way  fit  to  meet 
the  champions  of  her  foes.  Now,  then,  was  the  hour,  when 
another  great  battle  was  to  be  fought  between  the  same 
parties,  and  for  the  same  cause,  that  we  have  traced 
through  all  history.  The  combatants  were  ready.  They 
had  borne  with  each  other,  long  enough  ;  the  time  had  now 
come,  in  the  providence  of  God,  when  one  or  the  other  must 
fall.  It  was  a  dark  and  eventful  hour!  But  it  was  the 
harbinger  of  a  bright  day  for  the  human  race.  The  com- 
bat now  was  fierce  and  severe;  but  it  was  not  long.  The 
issue  was  the  same  as  it  always  had  been.  Freedom  was 
victorious.  The  collected  wisdom  and  power  of  centuries, 
directed  by  God,  was  too  much  for  the  oppressor;  and  he 
quailled  before  it,  and  tottered,  and  fell.  Yes,  the  empire 
of  tyranny  was  overthrown;  and  in  less  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  from  his  ascending  the  throne,  Charles  the  first, 
the  champion  of  supremacy,  was  headless  upon  a  scaffold! 
There  is  a  startling  interest  created  by  this  last  struggle, 


252          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR  EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

as  it  illustrates  the  immense  impulse  which  free  principles 
had  acquired.  We  trace  this  impulse  in  the  victory  itself; 
but  it  strikes  us  more  forcibly,  as  we  see  these  principles 
overflowing  their  proper  channels,  as  they  subsequently 
did;  and  hurrying  men  away,  almost  to  the  very  ruin, 
which  they  were  laboring  to  avoid.  Yes,  not  satisfied  with 
having  attained  their  point — all  on  fire,  as  it  were,  from 
the  heat  of  the  late  combat —  men  could  not  be  restrained. 
It  was  at  this  juncture,  that  the  radical,  Cromwell,  rose 
up;  and,  taking  advantage  of  the  prevalent  delusions, 
seated  himself  in  the  place,  though  he  dare  not  assume  the 
name,  of  a  king.  This  was  one  of  the  extravagances  into 
which  men  were  hurried.  But  such  an  oversight  did  not 
continue  long.  Having  been  saved  from  their  enemies,  they 
were  now,  in  a. short  time,  saved  from  dangers  which  their 
own  frenzy  had  created.  Indeed,  the  fury  of  this  tempest, 
as  it  may  be  called,  of  freedom,  soon  subsided ;  as  the 
events  which  followed  the  revolution,  were  calculated  to 
allay  it.  We,  however,  look  upon  the  restoration  by  no 
means  as  a  return  to  the  old  order  of  things,  as  we  have  so 
often  heard  it  called.  The  form  of  the  government,  was, 
indeed,  restored ;  and  we  doubt  not,  as  things  then  were, 
this  was  a  useful  step.  It  was  a  salutary,  as  well  as  natu- 
ral re-action,  from  the  then  dangerous  extremity  to  which 
men's  minds  had  been  carried. 

But  the  spirit  of  the  government,  was  essentially  modi- 
fied; as  the  power  of  the  crown  of  England,  then  received 
a  check  which  it  has  felt,  to  the  present  hour.  Men  were 
not  ripe  for  the  extremity  into  which  the  flush  of  victory 
had  hurried  them;  and  it  was  wise  that  they  receded  from 
it,  partially,  and  only  partially,  as  they  did.  We  mean  not 
to  say  that  perfection,  or  any  thing  like  perfection,  was  the 
result  of  this  convulsion.  If  it  had  been,  there  would  have 
been  no  occasion  for  our  own.  There  were  many  evils  left 
—  there  are  many,  still  remaining;  and  whether  they  are 
chargeable  to  Charles" or  to  Cromwell  —  to  the  revolution, 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          253 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

or  (he  restoration,  it  is  impossible  now  to  determine.     But 
whatever  may  be  thought,  at  the  present  day,  of  the  char- 
acters of  these   two   conspicuous   individuals,  we  believe 
that  the  revolution,  with  which  their  names  are  associated, 
was  a  mighty  event  for  man ;  the  influence  of  which  was 
not  counteracted,  but  only  modified,  in  its  excesses,  by  the 
subsequent  events.     Charles  was  a  royalist ;  Cromwell  was 
a  radical.     Their  doctrines  were  two  extremes ;  and  as  men 
fled  from  one,  they  rushed  into  the  other.     But  both  were 
dangerous.     Charles  was  a  tyrant — born  and  educated  a 
tyrant ;  he  looked  back  upon  the  long  line  of  his  predeces- 
sors ;  and  the  lesson  which  they  all  taught  him,  was,  that 
the  "king  was  supreme."     The  stream  of  freedom,  had, 
indeed,  for  some  time  previous,  been  flowing  on;  but  it  was 
among  the  people  alone.     He  who  sat  upon  the  throne,  was 
above  its  current.     He  felt  not  its  influence ;  and  when  the ' 
sound  of  its  movements  first  fell  upon  his  ears,  he  knew 
not  what  it  was.     The  rising  spirit  of  his  people,  so  strange 
to  a  king,  he  may  have  mistaken,   and  honestly  so,  for  a 
movement  dangerous  even  to  themselves;  and,  therefore, 
felt  bound,  as  the  hereditary  guardian  of  their  safety,  to 
quell  and  subdue  it.     Pity,  therefore,  must  mingle,  largely, 
with  our    indignation,  at  the    character  and  conduct  of 
Charles.     Still,  he  was  a  tyrant.     Whatever  and  howsoever 
his 'motives,  which  may  apologize,  in  any  measure,  for  the 
man  ;  he  was  yet  laboring  to  defeat,  the  great  progress  of 
the  human  race;  and  thanks  be  to  God,  that  he  failed. 
Yes,  more ;  if  his  life  was  inconsistent  with  the  safety  of 
man;   if  it  was  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  the 
great  work  of  freedom,  that  history  should  contain  so  pain- 
ful an  example,  it  was  wise  that  he  was  brought  to   the 
scaffold. 

All  danger  from  Charles,  being  then,  now  at  an  end,  it  is 
matter  of  rejoicing,  that  men  did  not  long  follow,  where 
Cromwell  would  have  led  them.  His  principles,  as  we 
have  said,  were  of  the  opposite  extreme,  from  those  which 


254          "THINGS     NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

had  perished  with  Charles,  upon  the  scaffold ;  and  unset- 
tled as  men's  minds  then  were,  such  principles  were  peril- 
ous. The  transition  to  them,  was  too  sudden  —  it  could 
not  be,  and  it  was  not,  lasting.  We,  however,  would  not 
impeach  the  motives  of  CromwelL  *  We  can  believe,  that 
he  was  carried  away,  like  the  rest  of  men,  by  the  enthusi- 
asm of  the  times;  and  that  the  course  he  pursued,  was  an 
honest,  though  mistaken  one.  We,  condemn  not  the  char- 
acter of  Cromwell;  on  the  contrary,  we  would  unite  his 
name,  with  the  names  of  the  benefactors  of  mankind.  For 
the  firmness  and  independence,  with  which  he  advocated, 
and  maintained,  the  cause  of  freedom,  he  is  entitled  to  our 
thanks.  For  the  courage  and  bravery,  with  which  he 
wielded  the  sword  in  her  defence,  when  the  last  great  strug- 
gle came,  we  praise  him.  But  we  must  stop  here.  As  a 
•subsequent  leader,  and  a  ruler,  we  are  compelled  to  rejoice 
that  his  principles  failed,  for  a  time,  as  did  those  of  Charles, 
forever.  Yes,  a  true  philanthropist,  must  rejoice,  that  his 
extreme  notions  of  government,  were  abandoned,  without  a 
convulsion ;  as  such  a  patriot  is  compelled  to  rejoice  that, 
the  other  extreme  of  Charles,  was,  with  one ;  in  which  the 
advocate  fell.  We  believe  that  the  true,  and  only  safe 
course  for  man,  lay  between  the  two  —  and  that  it  was  the 
tendency  of  the  Restoration,  and  of  the  events  succeding 
the  Revolution,  to  lead  man  to  that  middle  course. 

Instead,  therefore,  of  jarring  and  discordant  influences, 
among  the  characters  and  the  changes  of  this  momentous 
period;  we  find  all  unanimity  and  harmony.  The  brief 
survey  we  have  taken  of  the  men,  and  the  events;  and  of 
their  operation  upon  each  other,  authorizes  and  demands  of 
us,  that  we  hail  the  revolution  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
with  its  attendant  circumstances,  as  another  and  a  brilliant 
triumph  of  the  cause  of  man.  The  impulse  which  it  im- 
parted to  mankind,  gives  us  delight  —  and  the  excesses, 
therefore,  into  which,  in  some  instances,  it  hurried  him,  we 
must  overlook.  The  evils  of  these  excesses,  were  soon 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          255 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

remedied;  and  the  good  effects  of  that  revolution,  have 
never  ceased.  We  read  of  them  in  every  page  of  subse- 
quent history,  after  the  excitement  of  the  various  events 
had  passed  ;  in  the  better  defined  rights  of  ruler  and  people 
—  in  the  gradual  rejection  of  the  absurd  notions  of  "su- 
premacy and  submission  " —  in  the  liberal  and  independent 
sentiments,  which  have  since  possessed  the  human  mind  — 
in  the  constantly  advancing  freedom  oi  thought,  opinion 
and  speech.  These  results,  as  they  gradually  developed 
themselves,  bear  witness  of  this  event,  that  it  belongs  to 
the  great  series  —  and  more  —  they  bear  witness,  that  this 
revolution,  combined  with  the  others  which  we  have  traced, 
inspired  that  energy  of  mind,  and  independence  of  feeling, 
which  created  and  sent  hither  the  heroes,  who  achieved  our 
own.  And,  in  the  series  of  convulsions  and  revolutions, 
the  next  was  the  "American."  The  interval  between  this, 
and  that  of  the  seventeenth  century,  was  marked  by  no 
convulsion.  The  abdication  of  James  the  second,  and  the 
accession  of  the  houses  of  Orange  and  Brunswick,  are 
events  which  come  within  this  period;  and  are  indeed  of 
material  importance.  As  they  show  the  immense  diminu- 
tion of  regal  power,  and  the  consequent  increase  of  popular 
influence.  In  the  circumstances  attending  them,  we  can 
trace  the  same  great  principles,  which  have  run  like  a  golden 
thread,  through  the  whole  texture  of  history.  But  the  end 
had  not  yet  arrived.  The  lesson  of  equal  rights  and  priv- 
iliges  —  of  what  man  owed  to  his  fellow-man  —  and  of  the 
only  principles  by  which  the  elevation  of  the  whole  race 
could  effectually  be  secured  —  though  all  previous  history 
had  been  teaching  it,  was  not  yet  understood.  The  op- 
pressors of  man,  had  not  yet  learned,  that  the  cause  of  man 
was  Omnipotent  —  and  they  resolved  again  to  31-.  e  it  battle. 
Severe,  therefore,  and  frequent  as  had  bepn  the  struggles  of 
freedom  —  another,  the  boldest  and  the  best,  was  yet  to 
come.  As  if  in  direct  anticipation  of  the  accomplishment 
of  the  great  purpose,  a  "  New  Country,"  had  beeft  discov- 


356  "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

ered,  here  in  the  West,  uncontaminated  by  the  footsteps  of 
despotism;  whose  atmosphere  was  pure  and  free.  Dis- 
gusted with  the  oppressions  of  the  old  world  —  hither  came 
the  champions  of  freedom  —  and  secure  in  the  sacredness 
of  their  purpose,  they  here  made  a  stand,  from  which  they 
vowed  never  to  be  moved. 

But  the  eternal  foes  of  freedom,  who  had  ever  been  upon 
her  track,  that  they  might  strike  her  to  the  earth,  still  pur- 
sued her.  She  had  come  out  from  among  them,  into  this 
then  new  world,  and  here  stood  alone ;  and  they  imagined 
that  she  would  fall  an  easy  prey.  But  they  were  deceived. 
The  scene  had  changed.  Instead  of  lurking  like  a  crimi- 
nal, in  secret  places,  freedom  had  now  a  home — a  country 
of  her  own.  Patriotism  was  on  her  side;  and  the  impulse 
that  reflection  gave  her,  carried  her  triumphantly  through 
the  struggles  she  encountered.  Our  revolution  cost  them 
those  struggles;  and  the  result  of  it,  forever  settled  the 
question,  which  all  time  had  seen  agitated,  "whether  man 
should  be  free !  "  It  told  him  that  the  time  had  at  length 
come,  when  jgovernment  should  be  changed — when  man, 
under  God,  could  govern  himself.  The  foundation  of 
"monarchy,"  therefore,  was  completely  razed;  and  repub- 
lican institutions,  the  great  bulwark  of  liberty,  rose  upon 
its  ruins.  We  intend,  however,  not  now,  to  dwell  upon 
this  event.  Its  causes  and  results,  are  too  familiar  to  re- 
quire even  to  be  mentioned  in  this  review.  We  barely 
name  it,  as  being  the  great  point  to  which  all  antecedent 
movements  and  revolutions,  have  been  tending — as  origi- 
nating in  a  farther  development  of  the  same  cause,  and 
resulting  in  a  wider  extension  of  the  same  great  principles. 
As  we  said,  therefore,  in  a  preceding  part  of  our  discourse, 
it  stands  not  alone.  The  great  view  which  should  be  taken 
of  it,  is  that  which  looks  beyond  the  narrow  bounds  of  its 
particular  time  and  place  —  that  gives  the  eye  a  view  of 
what  went  before,  and  what  shall  come  after — and  em- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD,"          257 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND  ASSES. 

braces  the  whole,  as  one  entire,  extended  prospect.  And 
when  its  history  is  studied,  arid  its  great  features  dwelt 
upon,  we  would  have  it  regarded  as  a  point  of  unspeaka- 
ble interest,  that  it  is  not  our  history,  merely,  but  that  of 
mankind;  that  its  great  arena  was  not  our  country  alone, 
but  the  world ;  that  we  were  not  its  only  combatants,  but 
it  has  occupied  the  agency  of  the  entire  race  !  In  tracing, 
as  we  have  now  attempted,  the  progress  of  the  convulsions 
and  revolutions  in  the  history  of  man,  and  marking  their 
uniform  tendency  towards  our  own,  we  have,  generally, 
spoken  indifferently,  of  religious  and  political  ones,  with- 
out distinction.  We  have,  all  along,  exhibited  the  events 
which  sent  forward  Christianity,  in  common  with  those 
which  aided  the  cause  of  civil  liberty.  We  have  done  so, 
because  we  believe  them  the  same  in  principle  and  object. 
Them  is  a  perfect  harmony  of  design,  indeed,  between  true 
religion,  and  all  true  civil  liberty — showing,  conclusively, 
to  us,  at  least,  that  they  originated  in  the  same  great  source 
of  Infinite  benevolence.  As  we  have  before  intimated, 
often,  in  our  Theological  reviews,  free  principles  of  gov- 
ernment, liberty  of  opinion,  speech  and  action,  upon  our 
rights  and  duties,  are  but  a  part,  a  wider  extension  of  that 
stupendous,  beautiful  and  sublime  plan,  which  was  an- 
nounced in  Judea,  on  the  birth-day  of  our  Saviour.  We 
delight  to  dwell  with  adoration  upon  the  idea,  that  these 
principles  come  from  God,  our  maker;  and  that  civil  and 
religious  liberty,  are  to  walk  hand  in  hand,  until  the  entire 
race  have  recovered  that  enjoyment  of  them,  which  was 
lost  by  the  apostacy  of  their  covenanted,  federal  head. 
Christianity,  therefore,  was  only  a  revival  in  man,  and  de- 
velopment of  principles  long  stifled  and  concealed ;  and 
the  purpose  which  it  was  designed  to  accomplish,  was  to 
help  man  to  a  deliverance  from  the  degradation  and  thral- 
dom of  sin.  The  battle,  to  be  fought  with  the  powers  of 
darkness,  being  foreseen  to  be  altogether  beyond  the  pow- 
ers of  the  fallen  creature,  man,  his  benignant  and  merciful 
17 


258          "THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD," 

*$,    OR    EVANGELICAL    BONUS. 

Creator,  sends  Christianity  to  save  him  from  the  perpetual 
and  final  triumph  of  his  foes.  And  the  eternal  principles, 
in  man,  of  freedom,  now  united  with  Christianity,  in  a 
common  cause ;  and  ever  since,  they  have  been  fellow-la- 
borers, going  onward,  and  will  still  move  onward,  until 
they  have  completely  enlightened  and  emancipated  this 
enslaved  race.  We  will  smile,  therefore,  at  the  old  and 
obsolete  story  of  the  "divine  right  of  kings;"  though  at 
the  expense  of  millions  of  advocates  for  Iheir  far-famed 
Holy  Alliances,  at  the  present  hour.  And  we  will  smile  no 
less,  at  the  claim  of  any  man,  to  a  "  Divine  right"  to  exer- 
cise such  a  power  over  his  fellow  man,  as  that  here  referred 
to.  Christianity,  indeed,  authorizes  us  to  ridicule  the  idea, 
that  any  of  the  artificial  forms  of  government  come  from 
the  hands,  or  can  claim  the  special  sanction  of  the  "only 
Ruler  of  the  universe  ! "  Still,  we  insist  upon  it,  that  there 
is  one  sense  in  which  we  can,  and  must,  believe  in  this 
Divine  origin  of  government.  This  is  when  we  contem- 
plate them,  as  growing  out  of,  supporting,  and  being  sup- 
ported by,  the  principles  of  revealed  religion ;  when  we 
feel,  that  as  individuals,  as  citizens,  and  as  Christians,  we 
are  the  same  —  born  to  the  same  privileges,  and  duties, 
here  on  the  earth ;  and  destined  to  the  same  immortality. 
In  this  view  of  government,  we  see,  indeed  the  hand  of  the 
"King  of  kings;  "  and  learn,  of  course,  that  the  charter  of 
our  religious,  political,  and  social  liberty,  conies  from  God. 
There  is,  we  think,  great  satisfaction  to  be  gathered, 
from  the  view,  which  we  have  taken  of  the  convulsiojis  in 
the  story  of  man.  It  lights  up,  and  gives  interest,  to  the 
whole  history  of  man  —  that  history,  without  it,  would,  in 
many  parts,  be  but  dark  and  gloomy.  It  shows  us  the 
great  fountain  of  moral  improvement,  and  enjoyment,  as  it 
flowed  "fast  by  the  oracles  of  God."  There,  was  its  great 
source,  and  thence  did  it  issue.  It  has  been  constantly  flow- 
ing on  through  all  time.  Ingrate  man,  has,  indeed,  often 
endeavored  to  obstruct  its  course.  Tyrants  have  endeav- 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    OLD."  239 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE  FOOLS  AND^PSES. 

ored  to  arrest  its  progress.  But  what  have  they  effected? 
They  have  indeed,  built  up  their  barriers,  lofty  and  strong; 
and  thought  that  their  purpose  was  accomplished.  But 
though  they  had  impeded  for  the  moment,  they  had  not  ar- 
rested the  mighty  current.  The  stream  was  flowing  on, 
rising  higher  and  higher;  gathering  its  forces,  agtiinst  that 
which  opposed  it;  till,  at  length,  it  reached  the  highest 
point,  of  the  elevation  of  iJs  opposition ;  and  then,  furi- 
ously, and  in  a  moment,  it  dashed  over  its  bounds  —  and 
the  barriers  and  their  projectors,  were  together,  swept 
away  into  destruction  —  and  after  a' passing  moment  you 
might  have  looked  in  vain,  in  cases  referred  to,  for  a  ves- 
*tige  of  their  work  !  But  again  the  stream  rolled  on,  faster 
and  with  more  force,  from  the  very  resistance  which  it  had 
encountered  and  overcome;  until  another  barrier  was  erect- 
ed, and  which,  again,  in  like  manner,  it  swept  away.  Such 
has  been  the  course  of  moral  liberty — such  has  been  the 
history  of  man.  The  silent  gathering  of  the  waters,  have 
been,  the  "seeming  dark  places  —  the  habitations  of  cruel- 
ty." The  loud  rushes  of  their  overflow,  have  been  the 
great  convulsions.  Such  views  as  these,  we  think,  give 
history  its  true  aspect;  the  dark  parts,  have  only  been  pre- 
parations for  the  bright  —  and  all  for  one  and  the  same 
purpose.  The  very  opposition  of  tyrants,  under'God,  has 
been  made  to  give  an  impulse  to  freedom,  and  helped  man 
forward. 

To  conclude —  the  view,  which  we  have  here  taken,  of 
the  convulsions  and  revolutions  in  the  history  of  man,  fur- 
nishes matter  of  useful  reflection,  as  well  as  pleasing,  re- 
specting our  own.  We  can  invite  the  present  generation, 
whose  countenances  are  irradiated  by  the  fair  light  of  free- 
dom, to  stand  upon  the  eminence  which  Providence  has 
assigned  them,  and  there  take  a  retrospective  view  of  their 
race.  They  will  find  in  all  other  men.  fellow  laborers,  and 
brethren;  partners  in  a  common  struggle,  pressing  forward 
to  a  common  end.  They  will  learn,  from  the  scene,  to  re- 


•0  ' 
260          "THINJSS    NEW     AND    OLD," 

4fc.  OB    EVANGELICAL  BONUS. 

press  the  vain  thought,  that  would  impute  to  their  own 
revolution  alone,  the  liberty  they  enjoy.  They  will  learn 
their  indebtedness  to  past  generations.  The  fathers  of  our 
revolution,  were,  indeed,  noblemen;  they  were  expanded, 
high  souled  men  —  never  to  be  forgotten  "Names."  But 
they  stand  not  alone,  the  sole  pillars  of  freedom.  They 
were  but  the  associates  of  the  great  leaders  of  preceding 
convulsions.  They  took  up  the  cause  where  others  left 
it  —  arid  to  these,  therefore,  with  them,  is  the  honor  due. 
And,  again  :  those,  too,  who  may  sometimes  despond, 
with  respect  to  man's  cause;  who  may,  perad venture,  im- 
agine that  he  may  yet  fall  from  the  height  he  has  already 
reached;  and  thus  finally  fail  of  arriving  at  his  predestined 
moral  elevation ;  may  gather,  we  think,  increasing  en- 
couragement from  a  view  of  the  facts  which  we  have  here 
displayed.  Such  will  discover,  that  freedom  —  the  "lib- 
erty of  the  children  of  God,"  which'was  ordained  for  man, 
by  his  Creator,  is  not  the  mere  bubble  of  a  moment,  blown 
up  to  deceive,  and  burst  and  disappear.  Such  will-  learn, 
that  this  "  liberty,"  is  designed  to  be  the  glorious  result  of 
all  the  struggles  of  man ;  and  as  he  has,  under  God,  been 
striving  for  it  in  all  ages,  he  will  hold  on  his  way,  and 
finally  triumph.  Let  us,  then,  reader,  look  upon  the  his- 
tory of  the  convulsions  and  struggles  of  our  race,  with  per- 
fect confidence  and  satisfaction  ;  with  an  unshakeable  faith 
in  the  "promised  reign  of  righteousness  and  peace;"  of 
the  ultimate,  triumphant  enjoyment  here  upon  earth,  of 
"  the  glorious  liberty^of  the  children  of  God."  For  will 
the  sun,  think  you,  which  has  been  so  long  behind  the 
clouds,  which  partially  obscured  his  rising;  when  he  has 
just  beamed  forth,  in  all  his  brilliancy  and  glory  above 
them ;  will  it  go  back  down  again,  in  the  east,  whence  it 
arose,  and  leave  us  all  in  darkness?  I  tell  you  nay;  the 
biography  of  God,  tells  you  nay;  God  himself,  tells  you 
nay;  but  on  the  contrary,  "that  sun"  shall  roll  onward,  to 
its  meridian  splendor,  in  one  bright  and  unclouded  course; 


"THINGS    NEW    AND    (WLD,"  261 

TO  DIVERSE,  NOTABLE   FOOLS  AND  SsES. 

and  after  it  shall  have  witnessed  the  civil,  moral,  and  reli- 
gious freedom,  the  illumination  and  the  purification  of  the 
entire  population  of  this  globe;  it  shall  then  descend,  and 
sink,  most  placidly  and  sublimely,  in  the  west,  when  "time 
shall  be  no  more."  Yes,  such  is  the  united  testimony  of 
the  biography  of  God,  and  "His  Holy  Word." 

Now,  to  the  ever  blessed  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  be 
glory  and  praise,  through  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ,  forever  and  ever. 

Amen  and  Amen. 


To  READERS. —  \lthoughthe  author  of  this  volume,  has  been  confined 
by  a  dangerous  illness,  ever  since  it  was  put  to  press,  and,  of  course,  ren- 
dered unable  to  correct  the  proof-sheets;  yet  the  publisher  is  now  author- 
ized to  state,  that  excepting  typographical  errors  in  orthography  and  punc- 
tuation, the  sentiments  intended. to  be  expressed,  are  fairlv  presented,  in  all 
cases  but  one;  and  this  is  to  be  found  on  the  one  hundred  and  seventh  page, 
ninth  line  from  the  bottom;  instead  of  reading  "men  were  at  that  time, 
ignorant  of  the  use  of  iron  and  brass"  —  read:  "men  were,  at  that  time,  in 
a  stale,  of  infancy  and  ignorance." 

And  the  following  should  have  been  added  to  close  the  paragraph,  page 
184,  respecting  the  "failure  of  our  'Missions.'"  "Ah!"  said  my  late 
venerable  and  truly  learned  and  pious  spiritual  father,  Rev.  Doct.  Nathan 
Perkins,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  at  my  last  interview  with  him,  in  1836,  tears 
at  the  time  furrowing  both  his  cheeks,  "our  plan  of  ope  rations  is  not  Apos- 
tolic—  it  contains  too  much  of  the  '  policy  of  the  princr.s  of  this  .world ;' 
and  I  have  reason  to  fear,  it  will  not  be  finally  owned  and  blessed,  by  the 
great  Head  of  the  church.  I  do  not  like  to  be  a  prophet  of  ill  ;  but  I  am 
compelled  to  prophecy,  that  the  American  churches  will  be  overrun  and 
broken  up,  within  a  very  few  years."  His  remarks  were  so  striking  and 
thrilling  to  us,  that  we  then  entered  them  on  our  journal.  A. 


WILLIAM   HYDE, 


xo, 


AND    SOLD    WHOLESALE    AND    RETAIL.    ON    THE    MOST 
REASONABLE    TERMS. 

For  Schools,  Academies,  and  Colleges, 

THE  ANALYTICAL  PRIMER 

Btj  John   U.  Parsons. 

Containing  the  elementary  part  of  the  Analytical  Spelling  Bonk, 
on  the  pl.-m  of  G  mil's  Lesson  System  of  Glasgow  ;  l.y  which  nil  the 
powers  of  the  mind,  are  call<  d  into  exercise;  the  child  tennis  to  read 
tntrltigib'y,  even  from  the  first  lesson;  and  becomes  intr  rcstril  in  the 
connection  of  letters  \\iih  the  .-in:|  !••  ideas,  instead  of  the  dull  n  o- 
notony  of  repeating  sounds,  fqr  weeks  or  months,  without  attaching 
any  meaning  to  them. 

THE  ANALYTICAL  SPELLING   BOOK, 

Ry  John  U.  Parsons,  late  Principal  nf  the  Indian  Teachers1  Seminary. 
The  principal  original  feature  of  this  bo<  k,  is  the  Analogical  elas- 
pificatioii  of  the  words,  as  illustrated  in  the  last  two  pag'^s  of  the 
Primer.  'I  he  iiuthnr,  with  2  re  at  hibor,  has  gone  throrgh  the  language, 
and  arranged  it  in  tables,  illustrating  all  the  variations  in  etyn.o'ogy 
and  prosody  —  making  it  not  merely  a  spelling  book,  hut  practical 
grammarian  and  compositor. 

From  S.  Pu/ncm,   Esq.,  Principal  of  the  English  and  Classical  Hall, 
Brook'yn,  JV.   Y. 

DEAR  SIR:  —  I  have  been  patiently  waiting  for  the  Analytical  Spel- 
ling Book,  which  has  at  hist  arrived,  and  about  thirty  of  them  are 
now  in  the  hands  of  my  pupils.  I  have  long  considered  n  work  of 
this  kind,  a  desideratum  in  our  schools.  It  nerds  no  recnmn.endation 
but  to  be  known,  to  be  univeisr.l'y  »r!optrd.  Will*  ny  pirsrrt  view*, 
I  slia'l  f«-el  that  I  am  doing  »n  essential  service  to  the  youth  of  our 
land,  by  t;siug  my  feeble  influence  to  extend  its  circulation  nrong  the 
teachers  of  tny  acquaintance.  Yours,  most  resrerffnl'v, 

S.  PUTNAM. 


2  BOOKS    PUBLISHED 

From  Rev,  S.  R.  Hall,  author  of  Lecturei  on  School  Keeping,  and  Prin- 
cipal of  the  Tenchf.rs1  Seminary,  Andover,  Muss.  _ 
I  have  eximined  with  considerable  intention,  the  principles  of  teach- 
ing orthography,  ;is  developed  in  the  Analytical  Spelling  Bonk  by  the 
Rev.  J.>rm  U.  Parsons.     I  think  this  system  (tetter  adapted  to  the   im- 
provement and  thorough  progress  of  the  scholar,  than  nny  one  with 
which  I  am   acqu  iiirtad.     The  Spelling    B.>ok  is-  generally  accurate, 
and  must  be  highly  useful  in  our  schools  generally.      S.  R.  HALL. 

YOUTH'S   BOOK  ON   THE   MIND. 

For  the  younger  classes  in  Menial  Philosophy,  by  Cyril  Pearl, .Principal 
of  the  Backficld  Hi<ih  School. 

This  book  is  designed  as  introductory  to  the  study  of  Professor  Up- 
ham's  valuable  work  on  Ment-il  Philosophy,  and  should  be  studied  in 
all  our  common  schools.  Highly  commendatory  notices  of  it,  have 
appe  ired  in  all  our  most  re^pecteble  papers  in  New  England  and  Nevr 
York,  which  we  have  not  room  here  to  insert. 

From  the  Rev.  Mum  Wilton,  editor  of  ZiBn's  Advocate. 
We  noticed  this  book  some  time  since,  as  then  in  the  press.  It  is 
now  published,  and  for  sale  by  Mr.  Hyde.  Mr.  Pearl  is  a  practical 
teacher;  has  devoted  much  time  to  the  seieru-e,  as  well  as  to  the  work 
of  teaching.  He  has  adapted  his  b«.»k  to  the  capacity  of  youth;  it  is 
also  jmt  the  book  any  one  needs,  who  accounts'himself  a  beginner  in 
the  stu  ly  of  the  mind.  It  is  a  volume  of  only  I5G  pages,  and  will  be 
studied  by  hundreds  who  would  be  repelled  by  heavier  works. 

WA.E.REN'8  GEOGRAPHY. 

A  systematic  vieio  of  Geography,  tc:th  an  Alias,  for  Acadtmies  and  Schools, 

by  William  Warren,  Principal  of  the  Wiahdam  High  School. 
Of  thu  turnerous  highly  respectable  notices  of  this  work,  which 
have  been  received,  we  h.ive  r.)om  only  for  the  three  following 
From  the  Christian  Mirror. 

As  we  were  meditating  a  review  of  this  book,  the  following  came 
to  us,  by  rinil,  which  we  believe  to  be  from  a  peison  entirely  disinter- 
ested, except  as  a  member  of  the  body  politic,  who,  of  course,  has  his 
own  sh  ire  of  enjoyment  in  every  improvement  which  promises  good 
to  th'»  community.  In  its  commendation  of  the  new  Geography  of 
Mf.  Warren,  we  heartily  concur. 

Ma.  COMMINGS:  —I  wish,  through  your  paper,  to  call  the  attention 
of  sen ->ol  committees  and  school  teachers,  to  a  System  of  Geography 
for  the  use  of  schools,  which  is  just  out  of  press.  It  bears  on  the  title 
page,  the  name  of  WJLLIAM  WARREN,  Principal  of  Wind  hum  High 
School,  as  author. 

An  examination  of  it,  will,  I  doubt  not,  bring  many  to  the  result  at 
which  I  have  arrived,  that  the  book  is  better  adapted  for  the  use  of  our 
schools,  than  any  of  its  predecessors.  With  the  text  hooks  in  use 
heretofore,  from  Morse's  and  Cuimnings',  onward,  I  have  been  pretty 
well  ai'iuiinted.  as  s3'i:>lir,  teich^r,  airl  member  of  school  commit- 
tees. rl  hey  all  bear  the  same  objectionable  featuies,  nnd  some  of  the 
latest  have  th^se  features  in  greatest  prominence.  They  contain  too 
mui'h  descriptive  and  historical  matter,  which  is  never  well  learned, 
and  tends  only  to  give  a  superficial  chaiacUT  to  the  study  and  recita- 
tions. They  are  minute,  b?yond  all  reasonable  bound*,  crowding 


BY   WILLIAM    HYDE.  3 

upon  the  scholar's  attention,  the  names  of  all  the  little  hamlets,  hil- 
locks, and*  mountain-streams,  in  the  lain!.  They  contain  a  large 
amount  of  statistical  and  cither  such  matter,  very  convenient  in  a  took 
of  refi-rence,  liul  out  of  place  in  a  text-Lot  k  for  ecu  n.un  i-choo's. 

I  judge  frnm  Mr.  Warren's  book,  that  he  has  felt  in  his  own  school, 
the  objections  which  lie  against  the  text-hooks  in  use,  as  have  many 
other  teacher".  I  feel  obliged  to  him,  for  the  efibrt  he  has  made,  to 
supply  the  deficiency.  It  is,  I  think,  a  successful  eflbrL 

This  three-f.;ld  division  of  the  subject,  giving  "a  General.  Particu- 
lar, and  Miscellaneous  view  of  the  World,"  is  a  convenient  one,  and 
goes,  so  far,  t>  produce  clear  and  systematic  views.  The  topics  pre- 
sented, both  in  the  general  view  of  the  globe,  and  in  the  survey  of  in- 
dividual countries,  are  such  as  show  not  only  familiarity  with  the  or- 
dinary compass  of  Geographical  knowledge,  but  —  H  h;ct  is  more  rare 

—  discrimination  in  his  selections.     He  presents,  in  the  case  of  each 
.country,  its  position,  chief  towns,  mountains,  rivers,  find  productions; 

its  government,  religion,  education,  ai.d  morals.  He  does  this  clearly, 
concisely,  and  then  stops.  "  The  indispensable  thing,"  says  a  quaint 
writer,  '•  is  to  know  \\  hen  to  get  done."  No  where  is  the  exercise 
of  such  knowledge  mo^e  important,  than  in  a  text  book  fbr  common 
schools.  The  book  we  are  upon,  expibits  it.  The  author  says  enongh, 
and  does  not  say  too  much.  He  leaves  on  the  mind  of  the  scholars,  a 
clear,  well  defined  impression,  and  does  not  confuse  him  by  a  heap  of 
talk.  The  whole  book  —  if  we  excppta  few  pages  in  the  latter  part 

—  seems   designed  to  be   learned  by  the  pupil,  not  "  for  substance  of 
doctrine."  as  the  too  prevalent  mode  now  is,  but  sentence  for  sentence, 
and  word  for  word.     Learned  thus,  it  will  give  him  a  clearer  and  l»et'- 
ter  outline  of  Geographical  science,  than  is  ordinarily  attained.     The 
filling-  up  of  that  outline,  may  be  gained  with  greater  advantage  and 
completeness,  as  well  as  with  less  injury  to  the  scholar  forming  habits 
of  patient,  thorough  study,  from  other  sources.     I  have  taken  pleasure 
in  observing  that,  both  in  thy  second  and  third  divisions  of  the  work 
the  facts  stated,  and  scenes  presented,  are  given  in  such  manner,  and' 
with  such  degree  of  fullness,  as  to  open  the  way  for  oral  lectures  in 
connexion  with   recitation,  if  the  teacher  is  prepared  to  give  them, 
while  at  the  same  time  they  awaken  the  scholar's  interest,  and  suggest 
a  path  for  his  inquiries. 

Let  me  add,  that  the  peculiar  features  of  Mr.  Warren's  book,  while 
they  make  it  a  good  text  book  for  nil  our  schools,  render,  it  especially 
suitable  for  those  where  —  the  scholars  being  assembled  from  three  to 
six  months  only  a  year  —  perspicuity  and  brevity  are  more  important. 

Your  correspondent  writes,  \vithout  knowledge  of  publisher  or 
author,  simply  from  his  own  conviction  of  the  merits  of  the  work.  It 
is  just  such  a  work,  as,  in  his  own  days  of  teaching,  he  would  have 
given  much  to  find.  He  asks  for  it  an  examination.  B. 

From  B.  C.  Fernald,  Esq.,  Principal  of  the  Union  School,  Portland,  Me. 

MR.  HYDE:  —  I  have  examined  Warren's  Geography  and  Atlas, 
and  I  know  of  no  better  way  of  expressing  rny  approbation,  than  by 
stating  that  I  have  for  some  time,  taught  Geography  on  Mr.  Warren's 
plan;  and  that  I  shall  introduce  his  books  into  my  school,  as  fast  as 
new  books  on  Geography  may  be  wanted.  I  shall  he  able  to  do  this 
more  readily,  as,  by  the  help  of  his  questions,  which  may  be  had  for 
a  few  cents,  I  can  use  them  with  Smith's  Geography  and  Atlas,  uow 


4  BOOKS    PUBLISHED 

generally  used  in  this  State;  thus  obviating  the  greatest  difficulty  found 
iii  introducing  a  new  book,  however  great  its  merits. 

B.  C.  FERNALD. 
Union  School,  Portland,  August,  J843. 

From   William  BartleH,   Jr..  Esq  ,  a  School  Teacher,  and  member  of  tit* 
School   Committee,   Bangor,  Maine. 

BANGOR,  July  27,  J843. 

SIR:  —  T  have  been  favored  with  the  perusal  of  Mr.  Warren's  Geog- 
raphy and  Atlas.  The  classification  of  subjects  in  the  Geography,  I 
very  much  like,  because  I  think  the  pupil  will  be  enabled  to  pursue 
the  study  as  herein  presented,  with  much  less  confusion  than  he  other- 
wise would. 

ELEMENTS  OF  NATURAL  THEOLOGY. 
By  1.  Jft&ols,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Portland. 

The  following  notice  is  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Asa  Cummings,  editor 
of  the  Christian  Mirror,  Portland,  Me. 

Dr.  Nichols  has  prefixed  to  his  work,  the  appropriate  motto:  — 
"Every  house  is  builded  by  some  man.  But  he  that  built  all  things,  is 
God;"  and  the  work  is  a  very  happy  illustration  of  its  motto.  It  is 
devoted, principally,  to  an  examination  of  the  human  frame;  and  it  is 
shown  that  the  conformation  of  its  various  parts,  and  their  adaptation 
to  the  purposes  which  they  are  known  to  serve,  could  not  have  hap- 
pened without  the  design  of  an  intelligent  Creator.  It  is  better  adapted 
t.)  the  comprehension  of  youth  and  common  readers,  than  the  more 
elaborate  and  extended  tre.itises  of  P.  ley  arid  others;  and  m  xt  to  the 
Holy  Sirripiures,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  useful  fields  of 
contemplation,  which  could  be  spread  out  before  them.  We  do  not 
think  that  the  religious  cornmunitj7  sufficiently  appreciate  the  import- 
ance of  such  studies,  or  that  they  are  aware  of  their  beneficial  ten- 
dency; and  yet  it  was  on  contemplating  his  own  frame,  his  substance, 
that  was  curiously  wrought,  that  the  "sweet  psalmist  of  Isiv.i  I"  ey- 
claimed,  "I  will  praise  thec,  for  I  am  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made." 
If  any  person  can  peruse  this  little  book,  without  feeling  a  kindred 
emotion,  and  forming  a  similar  purpose,  the  fact  would  be  an  affecting 
proof  of  the  alienation  of  the  heart  from  its  Maker.  When  it  is  re- 
membered that  Atheism  is  among  the  spreading  errors  of  our  land,  we 
see  an  additional  reason  for  directing  our  youth  to  such  intellectual 
pursuits,  as  will  furnish  the  best  defences  against  this  arch  heresy; 
and  su-.h  we  regard  the  contents  of  the  work  under  review.  We  are 
glad  that  a  new  edition  of  the  work  has  been  demanded,  and  that  it 
makes  its  appearance  in  a  style  of  execution  so  worthy  of  its  matter. 

From  the  Portland  Courier, 

I  have  been  highly  gratified  by  the  perusal  of  this  volume,  vhich  is 
just  issued  from  the  press.  I  took  up  the  work  with  no  ordinary  ex- 
pectations; nor  have"  I  been  at  all  disappointed.  What  I  particu- 
larly admire  and  prize  in  it,  is  the  manifest  design  \\Lidi  every- 
where pervades  it,  of  doing  good. 

The  book  is  written  in  the  form  of  conversation,  and  is  well  calcu- 
lated for  the  use  of  schools,  and  would  constitute  a  valuable  and  in- 
teresting companion  in  every  family.  Aside  from  its  main  object, 
which  is  to  lead  the  reader  to  look 

44  Through  nature  up  to  nature's  God," 


BY   WILLIAM    HYDE.  O 

it  is  highly  valuable  as  a  book  of  instruction  in  natural  science.  I 
question  whether  there  is  another  book  in  the  English  language,  so 
well  calcul.it  -d  to  give  the  youn_'  an  early  and  familiar  acquaintance 
with  the  Mtrurture  of  the  human  frame. 

Dr.  Nidi  >l-  appears  uniformly,  to  have  sought  to  dress  his  facts 
and  arguments  in  the  language  common  to  all  society;  and  w  hen  more 
learned  ami  technical  terms  are  necessarily  employed,  he  is  careful  to 
expl  tin  their  meaning.  He  is  evidently  more  desirous  t  »  instruct 
th  >SB  who  need  instruction,  than  to  delight  those  who  are  already  in- 
structed. The  motto  has  a  very  happy  application  to  tlie  subject: 

"  Every  house  is  builded  by  some  man, 
But  be  that  built  all  tilings,  la  God." 

Onr  author  commences  by  defining  the  term  Theology,  which  he 
says  is  'derived  from  two  Greek  words,  employed  t>  signify  our 
knowledge  of  God.  and  is  divided  into  two  parts,  natural  ami  revealed. 
Revealed  Theol  >gy  embraces  those  extraordinary  discoveries,  which 
G'od  has  made  to  mankind,  in  the  holy  scriptures.  Natural  Theology 
teaches  what  may  be  know  of  God, from  the  manifestations  of  his  ex- 
istence and  perfections  in  the  natur.il  world."  The  work  under  con- 
sideration, is  I'onfiued  to  the  latter  branch  of  the  subject,  viz:  Natu- 
ral Theology;  and  the  arguments  are  principally  drawn  from  an  ex- 
amination of  the  human  fyst^m.  He  takes  first  the  head;  describes 
the  structure  and  formation  of  the  skull,  and  the  brain;  then  the  organ 
of  the  senses;  the  eye  receives  a  particular  and  minute  examination. 
Several  facts  are  stated  with  regard  to  the  construction  of  this  organ, 
which  I  have  not  met  with  in  other  works.  The  author  next  goes 
into  an  examination  of  all  the  larger  and  more  important  bones  of  the 
system;  'hen  the  muscles,  nerve.*,  alimentary  organs,  heait,  arteries, 
veins  ;.!)d  skin.  He  occasionally  has  allusions  to  comparative  anato- 
my, an. I  :;ives  a  short  view  of  the  animal  instincts,  the  organization 
and  properties  of  plants,  and  astronomy. 

Tb<;  work  contains  about  thirty  engravings,  illustrating  the  subjects; 
and  is  executed  in  a  handsome  style.  —  SEBA  SMITH,  JK. 

UFHAM'S  NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

In  3  vols.  octavo.  Vol.  1  —  The  Intellect.  Vol.  2  —  The  Sensibili- 
ties. Vol.3  —  The  Will.  Either  vol.  is  sold  separately. 


Musical  Works. 

THE  PORTLAND  SACRED  Music  SOCIETY'S  COLLECTION  OF  CHURCH 
Music,  consisting  of  Psalms,  Hymn  Tunes,  Anthems  and  Chants,  by 
DAVID  PAINE. 

THE  CUMBERLAND  COLLECTION,  by  B.  SWEETSER. 

THE  EASTERN  LYRE  a  Collection  of  Psalms,  Hymn  Tunes,  An- 
thems, Sentences,  and  other  set  pieces,  adapted  to  the  use  of  classes 
and  choirs,  by  EDWARD  HOWE,  JR. 

This  work  contains  a  choice  selection  of  the  most  favorite  old  tunes, 
us  they  ictre  origlna'ty  written,  in  addition  to  the  new  music,  which  oc- 
eupys  about  two-thirds  of  the  book.  A  number  of  the  tunes  are  in 
the  chanting  style. 

Appended  to  the  work,  is  a  temperance  department,  consisting  of 


6  BOOKS    PUBLISHED    BY   WILLIAM    HYDE. 

48  pages  of  choice  music,  most  of  it  old  airs,  arranged  in  four  pnrta, 
accompanied  l»y  words  adapted  to  temperance  celebrations,  lec.tures, 
and  social  meetings.  These  tunes  are  all  suitable  to  be  used  with 
other  words,  on  any  other  occasion. 

At  the  close  of  the  book,  are  a  few  popular  old  social  pieces,  such 
as  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  Tyrolese  Hymii,  &e.,  arranged  for  four  voices, 
for  the  use  of  the  social  circle.  The  temperance  department,  and 
social  pieces,  are  each  done  up  and  sold  separately. 


Books  for  the  Young, 


MEMOIRS  OF  MARION  LYLE  KURD. 

THE  ORPHAN  QUEEN. 

BRACKLYN  SWAMP. 

GUESTS  FOR  THE  MARRIAGE  SUPPER,  by  Dr.  Malan,  of 
Geneva,  Switzerland. 

THE  NEW  BARTIMEUS,  by  the  same  author. 

THE  ASSEMBLY'S  SHORTER  CATECHISM,  with  Scripture 
proofs  inserted  in  full.  Price  §4  per  hundred. 

WATTS'  DIVINE  SONGS;  price  $4  per  hundred. 

A  MOTHER'S  PLEA  FOR  THE  SABBATH,  in  a  series  of 
Letters  to  an  absent  son;  illustrated  by  a  great  variety  of  striking  and 
interesting  facts.  This  is  a  new  and  very  valuable  work,  just  issued 
from  the  press,  and  is  such  a  book  as  every  parent,  who  has  any  re- 
gard for  the  moral  culture  of  his  children,  would  be  pleased  to  place 
in  their  hands. 


Miscellaneous, 

THE  DEW  OF'  ISRAEL,  by  Krummacher,  author  of  Elijah  the  Tish- 
bite,  The  Martyr  Lamb,  &c. 

A  MEMOIR  OF  FELIX  NEFF,  Pastor  of  the  High  Alps,  from  the 
London  edition,  with  notes  by  an  American  Pastor. 

GREENLEAF'S  MAINE  RETORTS,  in  8  vols.  octavo. 

GREENLEAF'S  DIGEST  OF  Po. 

GREENLEAF'S  NEW  MAP  OF  MAINE  AND  NEW  BRUNSWICK,  revised 
and  corrected  to  the  present  time,  by  Moses  Greenleaf,  Esq.  This 
valuable  and  only  full  and  complete  Map  of  Maine,  is  ready  for  sale. 
It  is  colored,  lined  with  cloth,  and  mounted  on  rollers.  The  author,  a 
son  of  the  late  Moses  Greenleaf,  Esq.,  has  spared  no  pains  to  make 
the  Map  perfect,  and  is  probably  the  best  qualified  of  any  person 
living,  to  do  it. 

WILLIAM  HYDE  keeps  a  very  extensive  supply  of 


for  sale  in  large  or  small  quantities,  at  the  very  lowest  prices. 

Orders  from  the  country,  promptly  and  faithfully  executed;  and 
every  article  thus  sold,  if  it  does  not  give  perfect  satisfaction,  both  aa 
to  quality  and  price,  may  he  returned  immediately,  uninjured,  and  the 
purchase  money  refunded. 


A     000674311  '  6 


